Reports: US trailer orders buck summer lull

Equipment buying surged past seasonal norms in July as fleet quotation activity opened early for 2027, driven by improving freight rates and tariff-related cost pressures.
Aug. 27, 2026
3 min read
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Key Highlights

  • Trailer orders in July reached nearly 15,700 units, marking a 94% increase from July 2025 and a 16% rise from June, signaling strong industry momentum.
  • Order boards for 2027 opened earlier than usual, with backlog-to-build ratios climbing to 5.0 months, indicating sustained industry commitment into Q4.
  • Freight fundamentals are improving, supporting higher contract rates into 2027, though overall demand remains more replacement-driven than expansionary.
2109811688 | Adobe Stock
U.S. trailer orders defied typical summer lulls in July, posting big year-over-year gains behind earlier-than-usual 2027 order board openings, improving freight rates, and looming trade-related cost pressures.

U.S. trailer orders defied typical summer lulls in July, posting big year-over-year gains behind earlier-than-usual 2027 order board openings, improving freight rates, and looming trade-related cost pressures.

U.S. trailer orders defied the typical summer slowdown in July, posting significant year-over-year gains and strong sequential growth, according to recent reports from industry forecasters.

Both ACT Research and FTR Intel observed that despite July normally being the weakest month of the annual cycle, net orders surged. The market is currently being shaped by improving freight fundamentals, earlier-than-usual openings for 2027 order boards, and looming trade-related cost pressures, analysts agreed.

ACT: Order boards open early

ACT noted that net trailer orders reached nearly 15,700 units in July.

This represents a 16% sequential increase from June and a 94% jump compared to July 2025. The industry’s backlog remained virtually unchanged from June and grew more than 13% year-over-year, ACT said.

ACT Research
July net trailer orders reached nearly 15,700 units—a 94% surge year-over-year—while moderated cancellation rates point to a stabilizing market environment, according to ACT Research data.

July net trailer orders reached nearly 15,700 units—a 94% surge year-over-year—while moderated cancellation rates point to a stabilizing market environment, according to ACT Research data.

“Trailer quotation activity has been brisk, with many in the industry noting that order boards for 2027 are opening earlier than usual, even as pricing for next year remains unsettled due to tariff-related uncertainty,” Jennifer McNealy, ACT director of CV market research and publications, said in a news release.

“With 2027 order boards opening earlier than normal, net orders continue to surprise to the upside, and while build rates have slowed in line with seasonality, the backlog-to-build ratio has climbed to the 5.0-month threshold, committing the industry into the fourth quarter. Cancellations, meanwhile, have moderated to within the acceptable range, indicating a more stable environment compared to the volatility seen over the past two years.”

FTR: Freight fundamentals improve

FTR reported higher figures, with net orders reaching 16,862 units.

FTR Intel
FTR July trailer orders

FTR reports July U.S. trailer net orders reached 16,862 units—a 130% surge year-over-year—as improving freight fundamentals and tight capacity supported firmer replacement demand.

This reflects a 22% month-over-month increase and 130% year-over-year surge, putting July activity 23% above the 10-year average for the month. However, production moved in the opposite direction, with build falling 11% month-over-month and 9% year-over-year to 16,195 units, FTR added.

“Freight fundamentals are improving, but trailer demand remains more replacement-driven than expansionary,” said Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst for commercial vehicles. “Tight capacity is supporting firmer rates, and we project that contract rates will continue to rise well into 2027 even as overall freight demand remains modest.

Moyer also addressed trade-related cost pressures, such as April’s changes on Section 232 tariffs and ongoing duty investigations on van equipment sourced from Mexico, Canada, and China.

“These developments could benefit domestic trailer manufacturers, but fleets likely will see higher costs,” Moyer cautioned. “Overall, these actions are more likely to change where trailers and components are sourced, what they cost, and when fleets order than to create additional underlying demand.”

About the Author

Jason McDaniel
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Jason McDaniel

Jason McDaniel, based in the Houston TX area, has more than 20 years of experience as an award-winning journalist. He spent 15 writing and editing for daily newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, and began covering the commercial vehicle industry in 2018. He was named editor of Bulk Transporter and Refrigerated Transporter magazines in July 2020.

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