Preliminary net trailer orders dropped sharply in April, falling by more than 12,500 units from March, according to ACT Research.
The 57% month-over-month decline brought April’s order total to 9,400 units, which is 32% lower than the same month last year. After seasonal adjustment, the figure rises to 11,400 units—still about half of March’s adjusted intake of 22,700 units. Final order data for April will be released later this month, with preliminary estimates typically accurate within ±5%.
“After an upside surprise in March, lower April net order intake was expected, as it is one of the weaker order months of the annual cycle,” said Jennifer McNealy, director of CV Market Research & Publications at ACT Research. “More concerning, given the state of industry backlogs—but again not surprising—was that this April’s net orders were well below last April’s order intake, which itself was a muted year.”
McNealy noted ongoing freight market pressures including weak for-hire fundamentals, low used equipment valuations, full inventories, high interest rates, and policy uncertainty. These conditions continue to weigh on expectations for trailer production and new orders in 2025.
She added that March’s stronger-than-expected order volume may have been driven by a pull-forward effect ahead of potential tariff-related cost increases, which could partly explain the steeper decline in April.
ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report offers a monthly snapshot of the trailer market, including metrics on backlogs, builds, inventory, orders, cancellations, and shipments across major trailer types. It includes historical data from 1996 to the present, helping stakeholders track trends and assess market health.
