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U.S. trailer orders rise 97% in July
ACT Research says volume reached 15,900 units as demand strengthened beyond typical seasonal patterns
Trailers move through the assembly line at Stoughton manufacturing facility. July orders showed a 97% year-over-year jump to 15,900 units. (Stoughton Trailers)
Key Takeaways:
- Preliminary ACT Research data showed July trailer orders reached 15,900 units, up 97% from a year earlier and 18% from June.
- ACT said the industry's recent order cycle has been unusual, with demand strengthening later than normal.
- OEMs cited tariff-related buying, healthier business conditions and pent-up replacement demand as factors supporting orders.
U.S. trailer orders defied seasonal expectations in July, though the resulting gain from the prior year was against lukewarm results.
ACT Research preliminary data on Aug. 18 showed orders jumped 97% from the previous year to 15,900 units and also marked an 18% improvement over June.
“Typically, July is the weakest net order month of the annual ordering cycle, as fleets have made their decisions for current-year needs and OEMs start to build down the backlog,” said Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research for ACT. “That said, this year’s cycle has been anything but ordinary.”
McNealy added that the order strength that should have started in September or October of last year didn’t begin until December. She also views the atypical strength in orders as continuing to reflect an improving freight market that has been supported by rising rates.
“Regardless of the timing, the increased order activity is certainly welcome, but premature in terms of 2027 order timing and the opening by OEMs of next year’s calendars,” McNealy said. “Additionally, caution remains a strategy for some trailer purchasers.”
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McNealy
The past few years have been hard for carriers even with rates rising now, she added. McNealy warned that pent-up demand and the risk of higher maintenance costs to repair, rather than purchase new equipment, remain counterweights to their decision-making process.
“In a recent monthly survey, OEMs shared with ACT Research that the uptick in order activity seems to be a threefold event,” McNealy said. “Customers ordering ahead of tariff-related price increases, healthier long-term business conditions and pent-up replacement demand.”
