While the numbers may be improving, analysts warn the same challenges that faced the trailer industry in an abysmal 2025 remain.
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"Counter to cyclical expectations, net order intake in April increased from March, albeit by just 3%, logging 19,400 orders placed this month," says Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT Research. "Compared to April 2025, net orders vaulted nearly 127% over the subdued intake of 8,600 last year. Seasonally adjusted, trailer orders were 26,800 units compared to 18,800 seasonally adjusted rate in March, up almost 43% month over month."
April's cancellation rate of 1.4% as a percentage of backlog remained elevated, McNealy says, but it's better than March's 2.3%. And backlog remains a concern.
"Net orders have outpaced build for three of the four months in 2026. In April, nearly 2,300 more trailers were ordered than built, growing the backlog by more than by more than 3% month over month," McNealy says. "However, this was not enough to pump much lifeblood into the anemic backlogs. Year to date, backlogs contracted more than 13% compared to the first trimester of 2025."
