ACT Research says preliminary trailer numbers for March were surprisingly high, reaching 18,800 units. That's up 5,600 units from February, a 42% month over month increase.
"A sequential drop in net orders is typically expected as March traditionally ushers in the weakest months of the annual order cycle," says Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT. "That said, this year's cycle seems to have delayed a few months, as the order upticks that should have started in September or October of last year didn't actually happen until December. Regardless of the timing, we have entered the period of the year in which trailer markers typically receive fewer orders and start to work down the backlog that grew during peak season."
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While up month over month, March's orders were down 14% year over year.
"Given accelerating freight rates and rising carrier confidence, we now question whether more high-side surprising order intake months will happen or whether traditional Q2 order weakness will prevail as fleet decision-makers continue to hesitate about placing trailer orders while accelerating Class 8 tractor purchases instead in 2026," McNealy says. "Additionally, concern is mounting about how quickly trailer OEMs will build down the still-thin backlog, particularly given concerns about the level of activity in the key freight-generating economic sectors that drive transportation demand and high petroleum prices that weight on purchasing decisions for both consumers and fleets."
