Utility, Cargo and Specialty Trailer Manufacturers NAICS 336212, 336214

Mar 31, 2025 - Industry Prepares to Mitigate Tariff Impact

• According to the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM), the trailer industry faces significant challenges and uncertainties such as higher production costs and tighter margins from the evolving trade policies and tariff regulations imposed by the Trump administration. A new 25% on imported steel and aluminum affects essential materials in trailer manufacturing including bolts, staples, nails, and similar items. New tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada will create issues for companies with supply chain exposure, potentially causing disruptions and increased financial strain. The trailer industry is also concerned with retaliatory tariffs on manufactured goods applied to US exports, complicating trade relationships, according to the NATM. Companies may want to revisit their pricing agreements and negotiate terms to mitigate unexpected expenses.
• Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded for the second month in a row in February, with the Manufacturing PMI registering 50.3%. Ten manufacturing industries reporting growth in February’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business: Petroleum & Coal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Primary Metals; Wood Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Transportation Equipment. Manufacturers reported increases in production, decreased new orders, lower employment, slower supplier deliveries, higher inventories, increased order backlogs, and higher prices for raw materials. The five manufacturing industries reporting contraction during the period were Furniture & Related Products; Textile Mills; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Machinery.

• Consumer confidence levels, an indicator of discretionary spending, have fallen due to consumer anxiety about tariff effects and economic uncertainty, according to a report in CFO Dive. The consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan dropped 11% in March 2025, marking the third straight month of declines and hitting the lowest level since November 2022. In addition, the Conference Board index of consumer confidence fell in March 2025. According to Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at the Conference Board, “Consumer confidence declined for a fourth consecutive month in March, falling below the relatively narrow range that had prevailed since 2022.”
• US trailer net orders reached the fourth consecutive month with orders above 20,000 units and continued year-over-year growth in February 2025, according to Freight Transportation Research (FTR) data in Fleet Equipment Magazine. US trailer net orders increased 3% in February 2025 compared to a year ago, reaching 20,847 units. Compared to the previous month, orders were down 18%. Trailer production decreased 34% in February 2024 year over year. However, production grew 23% month over month in February, marking stronger order activity and OEM efforts to increase outputs ahead of anticipated tariffs. Trailer backlogs grew in February 2025, while the backlog-to-build ratio declined slightly.