Preliminary US net trailer orders for April reached 19,400 units, a 126 per cent y/y increase from April 2025.
The April orders increased about 600 units from March’s 18,800-unit level, a modest, but pleasing, three per cent month-to-month increase. This follows a fairly grim period of trailer sales experienced throughout 2025.
Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle takes the month’s volume to 26,800 units, ACT Research predicted. The preliminary order estimate is typically within ±5% of the final order tally.
“A sequential drop in net orders is typically expected, as April traditionally marks the second consecutive month of ‘weakest’ months of the annual order cycle,” said ACT Research Director of CV Market Research & Publications, Jennifer McNealy.
“That said, this year’s cycle seems to have been delayed a few months, as the order upticks that should have started in September or October of last year didn’t actually happen until December. Regardless of the timing, the order upticks certainly are welcome.
“Given accelerating freight rates and rising carrier confidence, we raised the question last month about whether more high-side surprising order intake months would happen, or whether traditional Q2 order weakness would prevail as fleet decision-makers continue to hesitate about placing trailer orders while accelerating Class 8 tractor purchases instead in 2026.
“Based on the April data, we now know there was at least one more month of improved order intake in the pipeline, but it remains to be seen how the final two months of Q2 will unfold.
“Additionally, concern is mounting about how quickly trailer OEMs will build down the relatively still-thin backlog, particularly given concerns about the level of activity in the key freight-generating economic sectors that drive transportation demand and high petroleum prices that weigh on purchasing decisions for both consumers and fleets.”
FTR also reported that US net trailer orders rose 11 per cent month over month (m/m) to 19,953 units for April and doubled (+100%) year over year (y/y) against a comparison of the April 2025 figures. Orders were also well above the 10-year April average of 15,474 units, marking another constructive data point for a market that had been under pressure.
Senior Analyst at FTR, Dan Moyer, was cautious about the spike in trailer figures.
“Overall, the US trailer market appears to be moving from deterioration toward stabilisation and modest improvement,” he said.
“Freight conditions are improving in pockets, but the recent rebound remains driven mainly by replacement demand and selective fleet activity rather than broad expansion. Trailers should therefore continue to lag Class 8 in the near term with improvement concentrated among stronger fleets, aged-equipment replacement, and dry van normalisation.”
In other news, CHEREAU backs Mont-Saint-Michel preservation.
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