BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR is reporting that U.S. heavy-duty trailer demand cooled in June but remained solid for a seasonally slow month.
“Cost pressure on the trailer market continues to mount from Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff changes in April and announced or pending antidumping and countervailing duties actions on van-type trailers and subassemblies,” said Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles, FTR. “As we noted last month, the May Producer Price Index for trailers indicated a sharp increase in prices. Although May’s index growth was revised slightly downward and June’s index was barely stronger than flat month over month, the recent jump in the PPI suggests that policy-related costs are very likely already reaching equipment prices.”
Net Orders Dip 28% from May
Net orders fell 28% month over month (m/m) to 14,474 units but rose 14% year over year (y/y) and were 8% above the 10-year June average of 13,379 units. The pullback likely indicates that April and May’s stronger intake was temporary rather than a new run rate. With summer typically weak, demand is unlikely to improve meaningfully until 2027 order boards begin opening around September. Refrigerated van and flatbed orders drove most of June’s y/y growth while dry van demand weakened after several solid months of orders. Almost all other segments improved from last year.
June builds rose 6% m/m to 17,633 units but were 1% below last year. Year-to-date production was nearly flat, down 0.5% y/y to 97,165 units. Overall, manufacturers remain cautious and are keeping production aligned with demand.
The market remains in a selective, replacement-driven recovery rather than a broad capacity expansion cycle. Stronger freight rates are supporting fleet confidence, but freight volume growth remains limited, and many carriers are still rebuilding margins. Low cancellations point to stable order commitments while strong Class 8 demand is diverting some fleet capital from trailers. Excess trailer capacity, high financing costs, elevated equipment prices, and uneven profitability will likely keep the recovery gradual.
Impact of Pending Policy Decisions
“The main risk from these recent and pending policy decisions is that trailer sourcing shifts faster than domestic capacity can adjust,” Moyer said. “OEMs and suppliers with U.S.-based production could gain share and pricing power, but a sharp pullback from affected imports could tighten availability, extend lead times, and raise costs. The trade actions are, therefore, more likely to change where trailers are sourced and when fleets order, at least near term, than to create meaningful new demand.”
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
