Preliminary net trailer orders in the US dropped more than 2,300 units from April to May 2025, a contraction of about 26 per cent, according to the latest findings from ACT Research.
The Indiana-based publisher of commercial vehicle truck and trailer industry data, market analysis and forecasts for North America and China, found in its State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers research that, at 6,600 units, order intake was nearly 12 per cent higher compared to May 2024.
The research house predicted that, based on seasonal adjustment (SA) in the annual order cycle, the number of trailer orders will be around 9,200 units for May.
This preliminary market estimate is typically within ±5 per cent of the final order tally, ACT Research said.
“Lower May net order intake was expected, as it is one of the weakest order months of the annual cycle,” said ACT Research’s Director CV Market Research & Publications, Jennifer McNealy.
“More concerning, though, is this level of order acceptance does nothing to support backlog growth, particularly with the elevated cancellation rates reported in the past several months.
“With weak for-hire truck market fundamentals, low used equipment valuations, relatively full inventories, high interest rates, and the ambiguity of policy shifts still in play, ACT’s expectations for subdued build and order intake levels during 2025 remain intact.”
ACT Research’s report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types.
US economic forecasting firm, FTR Transportation Intelligence said the continued tariff volatility and ongoing uncertainty in economic and truck freight markets, saw a drop of 34% month-over-month (m/m) in trailer orders for May.
Despite the weak May figures, FTR said May net orders were up 3 per cent year-over-year (y/y).
Year-to-date (YTD) net trailer orders for 2025 reached 83,218 units, a 24 per cent increase y/y, averaging 16,644 units per month, FTR said.
It also found that 2025 YTD trailer builds were down 29 per cent y/y to 80,729 units, an average of 16,146 per month.
FTR senior analyst for commercial vehicles, Dan Moyer, said: “The ever-evolving tariff environment continues to disrupt the US trailer market.
“The increase in tariffs on steel, aluminium, and fabricated components to 50 per cent on June 4 will significantly increase production costs for OEMs/suppliers, putting further downside pressure on trailer demand.
“Also, while tariffs on Chinese imports have moderated greatly – at least temporarily – other country-specific tariffs add further cost pressures.
“OEMs and suppliers face pressure to either absorb rising costs or pass some or all of them on to fleets, potentially impacting fleet expansion and maintenance strategies.
“As a result, some fleets may delay new trailer purchases or turn to refurbished and alternative options. Potential consequences include heightened market price sensitivity, extended trailer lifecycles, and a shifting of some demand toward used equipment or alternative configurations.”
In the Class 8 truck sector, forecasts were equally gloomy, according to ACT Research’s State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.
ACT Research figures found that preliminary North America Class 8 net orders of 13,200 units for May 2025 had improved month on month but had declined 44 per cent year on year.
April 2025 preliminary North America Class 8 net orders of 7,600 units had declined month on month and year on year (decreasing 52 per cent from April 2024).
Comparatively, March 2025 did see final Class 8 net orders for North America totalling 16,500 units, albeit a reduction of 5.9 per cent year on year.
FTR Transportation Intelligence said the Class 8 net orders in North America for May rose 40 per cent, month-over-month, from April’s very low level, but were down 47 per cent year-over-year at 12,000 units.
Orders were well below the seven-year May average of 18,319 orders and represented the lowest May order total since 2020, FTR said. To May 2025, orders for the last 12 months totalled 260,355 units, the company said.
FTR senior analyst of commercial vehicles, Dan Moyer, said: “Tariff volatility and uncertainty over the economy and the truck freight market continue to disrupt the North American Class 8 truck and tractor market.
“Legal challenges surrounding emergency tariffs and the potential introduction of Section 232 tariffs on Classes 4-8 trucks and their components add further uncertainty to the market environment.
“Coupled with the anticipated revisions to the EPA 2027 NOx standards, these factors have led many fleets to postpone equipment investment decisions.”
