The US trailer market received a much-needed boost for March 2025, while Class 8 truck orders dipped slightly, according to leading truck and trailer research firm, ACT Research.
In its April edition of the State of the Industry: US Trailers report, the company found that net trailer orders for March 2025 were in the vicinity of 21,200.
This figure was an increase of almost 21 per cent from the February 2025 orders and nearly 63 per cent above the March 2024 figures.
“March’s net order intake puts the Q1’25 tally at 62.7k units, 29 per cent higher than Q1’24 bookings,” said ACT Research Director – CV Market Research & Publications, Jennifer McNealy.
“While good news, we caution that the industry’s annual period of seasonally stronger order months is ending, and weaker intake months are expected as we move into the late spring/summer, amid tariff uncertainty that is likely extending the ‘pause’ on ordering decisions.
“For only the fifth time in nearly a year, order intake outpaced build, and by about 4,000 units.
“As a result, backlogs expanded 4.5 per cent sequentially but were down 24 per cent against 2024’s backdrop.”
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: US Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current US trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators.
Conversely, the final net orders for Class 8 vehicles across North America in March 2025 were down 5.9 per cent year over year, according to ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.
The most recent report found that the Class 8 final orders for March 2025 totalled 16,500 units.
“While uncertainty and a weak seasonal period have made parsing the tea leaves more challenging, cancellations at a 20-month high may indicate customers are pulling back on orders given the increasingly pessimistic outlook,” said ACT Research Research Analyst, Carter Vieth.
“Tractor orders of 12.2k units this month were essentially flat year over year, up 0.9 per cent. Vocational truck orders decreased 21 per cent year over year, totaling 4.2k units.”
With respect to medium duty vehicles, Vieth said: “Total Classes 5-7 orders decreased 33 per cent year over year to 18.6k units.
“MD orders have slowed through the past four months, as current bloated inventories and a weaker economic outlook weigh on new orders.”
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report provides a monthly look at the current production, sales, and general state of the on-road heavy and medium duty commercial vehicle markets in North America.
The Indiana based research publisher noted that current tariffs will extend the for-hire freight recession in the US.
According its current Freight Forecast: Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report, potential recessionary effects of a tariff trade dispute could impact the American trucking industry, with higher cost equipment expected to eventually tighten capacity and help end the long for-hire freight recession.
ACT Research Vice President and Senior Analyst, Tim Denoyer, said freight costs across the US will be impacted by the range of tariffs being imposed, with it being “very much in the crosshairs of the trade war.”
“As Q2 begins, retail sales are still brisk as consumers snap up pre-tariff prices, but freight demand fundamentals face major self-inflicted tariff headwinds,” he said.
“The pre-tariff inventory stocking period will soon reverse, and consumption will fall as prices rise.
“We expect a few more months of brisk demand for pre-tariff goods, followed by a tariff adjustment period with lower goods demand.
“The trucking industry also faces considerable supply shocks related to new US government policy. Both equipment and labor supply are affected, and this is likely to press truckload rates up after tariffs take their toll.”
The company’s monthly Freight Forecast report provides analysis and forecasts for a broad range of US freight measures, including the Cass Freight Index, Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, and DAT spot and contract rates by trailer type for the US and Canada.
