April Sees a 32% Decline in Trailer Orders Compared to Last Year

The latest report from ACT Research reveals that U.S. trailer orders plummeted in April after an unexpected rise the month before.

Initial figures indicate a staggering 32% drop year-over-year to about 9,400 units and a shocking 57% decline from March’s numbers. While trailer orders have generally been on the decline for the past two years, there were notable spikes like the impressive 63% increase seen in March.

“Given that April is typically one of our slower months, we anticipated this downturn following March’s surprise,” explained Jennifer mcnealy, who leads commercial vehicle market research at ACT. “What’s more troubling is how far below last April’s already modest figures this year’s orders are.”

ACT expects subdued order levels throughout 2025 due to several factors including weak demand for rental trucks, low valuations on used equipment, high interest rates, and uncertainty surrounding policy changes. McNealy suggested that the surge in March might have been customers rushing to place orders ahead of potential tariffs.

“Things have definitely quieted down since April,” noted ron Jake from Stoughton Trailers. “There’s noticeable hesitation among buyers; we’re seeing fewer quotes come through as many clients are holding off on decisions amid all these market shifts.”

the trade landscape has been heavily influenced by President Trump’s tariff policies—notably his baseline tariff of 10%. Many proposed tariffs remain uncertain as negotiations with countries like China continue; recently both nations agreed to delay higher tariffs for three months.

“I felt like freight conditions were slightly improving earlier this year,” Jake added. “But with all these tariff announcements creating uncertainty alongside already weak fundamentals in freight markets, it has caused many customers to pause thier purchasing decisions.”

The seasonal adjustment rate currently sits at around 11,400 units—a stark contrast to last month’s adjusted figure of approximately double that amount.

Dan Taylor from Western Trailers shared similar sentiments: “April was definitely slower than last year,” he said. “We’re putting in extra effort just trying to secure orders while navigating through these challenging times.”

Taylor pointed out that despite tough conditions having a diverse customer base has helped maintain some level of business activity—customers seem more inclined to buy what is readily available rather than placing new orders.

“They’re opting for what we have on hand,” he remarked. “When economic conditions dip like this one does now—people tend toward buying what’s instantly accessible.”

Taylor also highlighted overcapacity issues affecting customer decisions; many drivers are still working under lower rates which limits opportunities for investing in new trailers or equipment.

“Q1 wrapped up pretty much as expected and Q2 seems set to follow suit,” commented theresa Check from Hyundai Translead. “Dealers remain cautious amidst this declining market but there are signs of hope emerging within chassis and flatbed segments.” She emphasized maintaining flexibility within operations allows them better adaptability as market demands shift throughout the year.

Listen below for today’s briefing or check out more details here: