Trailer net order intake in April was just below 9.4k units, down more than 57% from March and about 32% lower than the subdued level of orders accepted in April 2024, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.

“April’s net order intake puts the year-to-date order tally at 70.5k units, 13% higher than the 62.2k bookings for the first four months of 2024,” said Jennifer McNealy, Director–CV Market Research & Publications at ACT Research. “While appearing to be better news, we caution that the industry’s annual period of seasonally stronger order months has ended, and weaker intake months are expected from now through mid-Q3.

“After being stable in December and January, cancellations started to escalate, jumping in April to 2.3% of the backlog. Trailer production was more than 8,200 units higher than order placements in April. As a result, backlogs contracted 8% sequentially and remain sharply lower against 2024’s soft backdrop,” McNealy concluded.

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.