ACT Research reported that preliminary net trailer orders jumped nearly 8,800 units from May to June, a 133% month-to-month increase. 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. This preliminary market estimate is typically within ±5% of the final order tally.
“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. 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,” said Jennifer McNealy, Director CV Market Research & Publications at ACT Research. “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.”
She concluded, “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 US 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. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers, trailer OEMs, and suppliers to better understand the market.