Trailer Orders Jump in April Despite Typical Seasonal Dip
ACT Research reports April net orders rose instead of falling, marking a delayed order cycle that started in December rather than the usual September-October window.
Why did trailer orders rise in April when they usually drop?
April trailer orders climbed instead of falling, breaking the typical seasonal pattern and extending an order cycle that started three months late, according to preliminary data from ACT Research. The firm's final April figures will be released later this month; preliminary estimates historically land within 5% of the final count.
Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research and publications at ACT Research, said April normally marks one of the two weakest months in the annual trailer order cycle. This year the cycle shifted.
"A sequential drop in net orders is typically expected, as April traditionally marks the second consecutive month of 'weakest' months of the annual order cycle," McNealy said. "That said, this year's cycle seems to have been 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."
What the delayed cycle means for equipment availability
The three-month delay pushes trailer deliveries into late 2026 and early 2027, tightening availability for fleets that typically spec new dry vans or reefers in the fall. Lead times that would have compressed by now remain stretched. Small fleets ordering today should expect delivery windows closer to what they saw in Q1 rather than the shorter waits that usually open up by mid-year.
The December start also means OEMs and trailer manufacturers carried lower order backlogs through the first quarter, which may have limited their ability to negotiate volume discounts on axles, suspensions, and refrigeration units. Those costs typically get passed through to the buyer.
How this compares to the Class 8 order surge
Trailer order strength follows the Class 8 orders jump in April, which rose 201% as freight rates firmed and capacity tightened. Trailer orders typically lag tractor orders by one to two quarters, so the April uptick aligns with the broader equipment replacement cycle now underway.
Fleets that deferred trailer purchases in 2023 and early 2024 are now placing orders as utilization climbs and older equipment ages out. The delayed cycle suggests many operators waited for clearer freight-market signals before committing capital to new trailers.
What to watch in the final April data
ACT's final April trailer order count will confirm whether the preliminary estimate holds. A final tally within 5% of the preliminary figure would mark the sixth consecutive month of order growth since December. Any downward revision would signal the cycle may be peaking earlier than the delayed start suggested.
Fleets should also watch May and June orders. If the cycle continues to track three months behind the historical pattern, orders should remain elevated through summer rather than dropping off in June as they typically do. That would push peak delivery slots into Q1 2027 and keep upward pressure on trailer prices through year-end.
