BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR is reporting U.S. trailer demand strengthened again in April, extending March’s upside surprise rather than following the typical spring slowdown.
“Overall, the U.S. trailer market appears to be moving from deterioration toward stabilization and modest improvement,” said Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles, FTR. “Freight conditions are improving in pockets, but the recent rebound remains driven mainly by replacement demand and selective fleet activity rather than broad expansion. Trailers should therefore continue to lag Class 8 in the near term with improvement concentrated among stronger fleets, aged-equipment replacement, and dry van normalization.”
Orders Well Above 10-Year Average for April
Net orders rose 11% month over month (m/m) to 19,953 units and doubled (+100%) year over year (y/y) against an easy April 2025 comparison. Orders were also well above the 10-year April average of 15,474 units, marking another constructive data point for a market that had been under pressure.
U.S. trailer builds were essentially flat m/m in April at 17,576 units and up 1% y/y. Calendar year-to-date builds were also roughly flat y/y at 62,929 units, indicating continued production discipline among trailer manufacturers.
What is Shaping Demand Patterns
“Cost and policy risks remain key overhangs and may already be shaping demand patterns,” Moyer said. “A change in how the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs are applied adds pricing and sourcing volatility for trailer equipment with significant metals exposure, and a van trailer antidumping and countervailing duties investigation adds further uncertainty. April trailer demand was better than expected, but a durable upcycle will likely require stronger fleet margins, higher trailer utilization, further absorption of excess capacity, and clearer visibility into trade-related costs.”
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.
