The trailer industry is finally showing some signs of optimism, ACT Research says, as freight rates increase and equipment order intake improves.
"Again, counter to cyclical expectations, net order intake in May increased from April, albeit by just 7.6%, logging 20,900 orders placed this month," says Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT. "And although it may seem like it's been a while, one only needs to go back to this past January to find another 20,000 net order intake. Compared to May 2025, net orders vaulted more than 240% over the lackluster intake of 6,100 last year."
May's cancellation rate did remain a little high, up to 1.9% from 1.4% in April, McNealy says, with cancellations reported in most segments.
"Net orders have now outpaced build for four of the five months in 2026," she says. "In May, about 4,100 more trailers were ordered than built, growing the backlog by more than 5% month over month. However, this was not enough to pump much lifeblood into the anemic backlogs. It appears the end of the road is in sight, but there's a little more traveling to do before the industry is again standing in the sunlight of healthier times."
