BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR is reporting U.S. trailer demand in March came in stronger than expected.
Net orders rose a surprising 36% month over month (m/m) to 18,045 units but remained down 15% year over year (y/y). The sequential gain is counter to typical seasonality as net orders usually fall around 20% m/m in March. Even with the sharp m/m increase, net orders were still below the 10-year March average of 20,276. Orders for the 2026 U.S. trailer order season (September 2025-March 2026) are down 19% y/y, and orders are down 15% for the year to date.
“Despite the healthy increase in orders, trailer demand remains largely replacement driven as fleets still have excess trailer capacity,” said Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles. “In contrast, Class 8 demand has strengthened meaningfully, supported by improving asset utilization, firmer rate expectations, and better visibility into tariff-adjusted pricing and EPA 2027 NOx regulations – all of which combine to drive an early-cycle recovery in orders. As a result, fleet capital allocation is increasingly shifting toward power units aligned with forward-looking needs, leaving trailers relatively deprioritized despite improved freight market conditions.”
Units Slightly Down Y/Y
March U.S. trailer builds increased 15% m/m to 17,501 units but were slightly (1%) below prior-year levels. Year-to-date builds are also down 1% y/y, reflecting continued production discipline from manufacturers.
“Meanwhile, the U.S. trailer market continues to face persistent headwinds,” Moyer said. “Elevated steel and aluminum costs, ongoing trade uncertainty, high financing costs and constrained capital spending are limiting incremental demand and keeping orders subdued.”
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.
