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The more than year-long surge in orders for new trailers showed signs of leveling off in June, increasing just 6% from 2010 levels, compared with an overall 65% gain over the first half of 2011, ACT Research Co. said.

Orders for new trailers in May increased 30% from a year ago but slipped from an April peak, although manufacturers said the market remained strong, with total orders through May 77% ahead of 2010 and with a growing backlog of deliveries.

New building techniques and innovative materials are helping to make trailers, especially dry vans and reefers, lighter, more fuel efficient and better at fighting corrosion, manufacturers said.

Federal legislation that would ban the use of double-decker trailers to transport horses has drawn the ire of trucking and other interest groups because they say there has not been adequate debate.

Legislation that would ban the transportation of horses in double-decker trailers would cost the nearly 80 contractors who transport livestock to rodeos all over the U.S. more than $4 million in extra operating and equipment costs, according to estimates by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Great Dane Trailers president and chief operating officer Phill Pines will retire at the end of this year after more than 50 years in the trailer industry, the company said Thursday.

Trailer maker Wabash National Corp. said it has begun production on 350 new refrigerated van trailers for Frozen Food Express Industries, to be completed by September.