COLUMBUS, Ind. — Preliminary net trailer orders in December were up nearly 13,400 units from November’s 11,900-unit level, a 112% month-to-month increase.
“Sequentially, a slight uptick in net orders was expected, as December is usually the second strongest order month of the annual cycle,” said Jennifer McNealy, director CV market research & publications at ACT Research. “That said, preliminary data showed new vehicle demand for power units jolt awake in December, and those same factors of a firmer economic foundation, December’s weather-induced spike in freight rates, increasingly aged fleets, and some level of tariff-related clarity are also in play for trailing equipment demand.”
Highest December Since 2024
At 25,300 units booked in December, order intake was almost 5% above December 2024’s level. Seasonal adjustment (SA) at this point in the annual order cycle lowers the monthly tally to 18,600 units. Final December trailer industry data will be available later this month. This preliminary order estimate is typically within ±5% of the final order tally.
“December’s tally brings the Q4 net order total to 53.4k units and closes 2025 with 172.1k units of trailing equipment ordered, about 6% more trailers than were requested in 2024,” McNealy said. “While a better year than 2024, concerns about the level of economic activity that drives transportation demand, still-weak, although improving, for-hire carrier profitability, and uncertainty about future government policies remain as challenges to stronger trailer demand in the near term.”
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.
