Utility, Cargo and Specialty Trailer Manufacturers NAICS 336212, 336214

Jul 31, 2025 - New Trailer Orders Rise

• US trailer net orders increased 157% in June 2025 year over year and 113% month over month, reaching 13,827 units, according to Freight Transportation Research (FTR) data in Fleet Equipment Magazine. Trailer production was down 13% in June 2025 year over year, but rose 7% month over month. Rising material costs of building trailers tied to higher tariffs on steel and aluminum are placing financial pressures on players in the industry. Per FTR senior analyst Dan Moyer, “Trailer manufacturers and suppliers face a difficult choice: Either absorb the rising costs themselves or pass them on to fleets, which could significantly influence decisions around fleet expansion and maintenance.” Year to date, trailer net orders for 2025 were up 36% compared to the same period. Trailer backlogs declined by 10% year over year in June 2025, while the backlog-to-build ratio hit 5.8 months.
• Transportation equipment manufacturing, which includes utility, cargo, and specialty trailer manufacturing, is one of the six manufacturing industries reporting contraction in June’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. Transportation equipment manufacturers reported increases in new orders and production, a decrease in employment, slower supplier deliveries, lower inventories, lower order backlogs, and higher prices for raw materials. Other industries reporting contraction were Textile Mills, Wood Products; Paper Products; Chemical Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Nine manufacturing industries reported growth during the period including Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Furniture & Related Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components. Overall, economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the fourth consecutive month in June, with the Manufacturing PMI registering 49%.

• The US utility, cargo, and specialty trailer manufacturers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of -0.06% between 2025 and 2029, slower than the overall economy's anticipated growth, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The durable goods manufacturing sector forecast indicates that the labor force is expected to diminish, barring immigration reform that allows greater numbers. However, new technologies could support labor productivity for the industry. According to the forecast, investment in manufacturing facilities could stem from a range of factors, including the need to shorten supply chains after disruptions to domestic and foreign production and freight transportation during the pandemic. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. A factor that may curb consumer spending is higher tariffs on consumer goods.
• 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 duty on imported steel and aluminum imposed in March 2025 affects essential materials in trailer manufacturing, including bolts, staples, nails, and similar items. New tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, among other countries, 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.