FTR on Monday confirmed U.S. trailer orders strengthened sharply in August, closing the 2026 order season up 43% from July and more than 221% year over year at 24,144 units.
The increase, which ACT Research also reported last week, points to firmer replacement demand, supported by solid freight rates and tight capacity, although the year-over-year comparison continues to benefit from very weak prior-year activity.
With the Class 8 truck pre-buy now concluded and the market transitioning into the 2027 ordering cycle, FTR states a greater share of fleet capital will likely shift toward trailer replacement. Some limited fleet growth is also possible.
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“The stronger order performance is encouraging, but the recovery remains uneven by segment. Fleets appear more willing to address replacement needs, while elevated equipment costs and competing capital requirements continue to keep spending selective,” says Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst, commercial vehicles
Overall, FTR reports the 2026 trailer order season (September 2025 to August 2026) finished at 212,116 units, up 13% from the prior season. Year-to-date (YTD) net orders totaled 150,320 units, up 38% year over year. YTD build totaled 130,922 units, down 1% from the same period last year. FTR states U.S. heavy-duty trailer production was relatively steady in August. Builds increased 5% month over month to 16,953 units and were unchanged against 2025.
Looking ahead, Moyer says “Trade actions are becoming a larger part of the cost equation for U.S. trailer manufacturers and importers with recent changes including a reconfiguration of the steel and aluminum tariffs in April, a number of changes related to an antidumping/countervailing duties investigation regarding van-type trailers and, most recently, retaliatory tariffs by Canada that include trailers. These trade measures are adding to an already high-cost trailer environment.”
