An unprecedented uptick in trailer orders in June created impressive year-over-year order stats for the trailer market, but ACT Research reported in its State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report Wednesday that it is unlikely the conditions that drove June’s order boom are likely to continue longer term.
ACT reports the net order intake in June was nearly 15,400 trailers, up 133% from May and 144% from June 2024.
“This puts the Q2 tally at 30,900 [units] and the year-to-date order total at 92,000 units, 24% higher than the 74,400 bookings for the first half of 2024,” says Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT.
“Worth noting, June’s net order jump likely is, in part, a pull-forward of activity ahead of anticipated price increases. At this point, weaker intake continues to be expected through at least mid-Q3 when the 2026 orderbooks open.”
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McNealy also notes “cancelations started to escalate in February,” influenced by ongoing uncertainty around market conditions. “Buttressed by some astronomical tank order cancellations, this month’s rate as a percentage of backlog rose to 4.2%. Additionally, data continue to show high dry van cancelations,” she says.
