Surprise! Trailer orders jump in June

Preliminary net trailer orders jumped nearly 8,800 units from May to June—a 133% month-to-month increase, according to the latest analysis by ACT Research.

At almost 15,400 units booked in June, order intake was 144% higher compared to June 2024. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle raises June’s tally to 23,400 units.

Final June results will be available later this month.

“Lower June net order intake was expected, as it is one of the weaker order months of the annual cycle, so June data surprised to the upside,” Jennifer McNealy, ACT director of CV market research and publications, said in a news release. “That said, OEMs have been sharing for the past several months that amid the lower order placements, they have seen a flurry of quotation activity.

“While speculative, we suspect this may be a pull forward of demand in advance of anticipated price increases. And although this is good near-term news, supporting build rates in 2025, concern remains that weak for-hire carrier profitability continues to be an ongoing challenge to stronger demand.

“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. Additionally, preliminary data show cancel rates continue to be elevated, and in aggregate our standard notice that one month’s data does not make a trend is worth reiterating.”

ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders, and factory shipments.