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February 28, 2001 12:13 PM, EST

The U.S. trailer industry closed out 2000 with shipments 20% below the previous year, mirroring the truck manufacturing industry and triggering more than 1,000 layoffs and widespread production cuts among the major trailer manufacturers.

As with truck sales, the rate of descent for trailer shipments is steepening, pacing the faltering national economy. At the end of November, trailer shipments were 10.5% behind 1999.

Shipments for the year totaled 240,256 compared with 300,463 for 1999. December 2000 shipments totaled 13,993, nearly 36% below shipments in the previous December.

For the full story, see the Feb. 26 print edition of Transport Topics. .

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