Utility, Cargo and Specialty Trailer Manufacturers NAICS 336212, 336214

Nov 26, 2025 - Trailer Orders Climb Month Over Month, Down Yearly

• According to a report in Fleet Equipment Magazine, US trailer orders rose sharply in October 2025, climbing 77% month-over-month to 15,916 units, but remained 5% below last year and far short of the 10-year October average of 37,116. For utility and cargo trailer manufacturers, the rebound signals renewed fleet engagement yet underscores persistent headwinds: soft freight demand, elevated input costs, and tariff pressures. Year to date orders reached 135,525 units, up 18% year over year, largely driven by post election backloaded demand, though early 2026 commitments are down 15% year over year. Production in October slipped 2% month over month to 17,527 units, while backlogs fell 14% year over year to 71,990, leaving a backlog/build ratio of 4.1 months, the lowest since 2020. Analysts warn that 50% Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper will continue to weigh on OEMs, forcing tighter cost controls and sourcing shifts. Manufacturers face a balancing act between maintaining build rates and adapting to weaker fleet sentiment.
• The transportation equipment manufacturing category, which includes utility, cargo, and specialty manufacturers, is one of the six manufacturing industries reporting growth in October’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. Transportation equipment manufacturers reported an increase in new orders, growth in production, higher inventories, slower supplier deliveries, higher employment, higher order backlogs, and higher prices for raw materials. Other manufacturing industries reporting growth during the period included Primary Metals; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products. A dozen industries reported contraction, including Textile Mills; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Paper Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Computer & Electronic Products. Overall, economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the eighth consecutive month in October, with the Manufacturing PMI registering 48.7%.

• According to a report to Transport Topics, tariff uncertainty is significantly dampening demand in the utility, cargo, and specialty trailer industry, with dealers and manufacturers reporting reduced orders and cautious inventory strategies. Steel and aluminum tariffs, raised to 50% in 2025, along with levies on components and semiconductors, have made trailer pricing unpredictable, discouraging new purchases. Dealer inventories fell 47% year over year, and production is expected to bottom out in Q1 2026 before gradually recovering, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence data. While dry van and refrigerated trailer segments saw the steepest declines, flatbed trailers have remained comparatively stable, though still under pressure. Manufacturers face challenges passing cost increases to customers and managing offshore component sourcing. The lack of tariff clarity continues to stall investment and planning, forcing industry stakeholders to delay decisions and brace for prolonged market softness.
• Sales for motor vehicles and parts companies, including utility, cargo, and specialty trailer manufacturers, fell 1.8% in Q2 2025 year over year and were up 9.5% from the previous quarter, according to the Census Bureau. After-tax profits for motor vehicles and parts companies fell in Q2 2025 year over year, down 62.3% from a year ago and down 19.6% from the previous quarter. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), average wages for nonsupervisory employees at transportation equipment manufacturers were up 4.5% in August 2025, reaching $35.88 per hour. Producer prices for truck trailer manufacturers were up 3.3% in August 2025 year over year while producer prices for travel trailers and campers were up 3.1% during the same time frame, per the BLS.