Utility, Cargo and Specialty Trailer Manufacturers

The 1,026 utility, cargo and specialty trailer manufacturers in the US produce a wide variety of trailers that attach to automobiles and trucks for towing. Products include flat-bed vehicle transport trailers, boat trailers, utility trailers, cargo trailers, lift and dump trailers, horse and livestock trailers, log and pipe wagons, reel trailers, semi-trailers, and tank trailers.

Competition from Used Trailers

Trailer manufacturers compete with brands from other manufacturers, as well as used trailers sold by dealers.

Food Truck Growth

The explosion of the mobile food truck industry has significantly raised demand for modified cargo trailers.

Jul 29, 2026 - Trailer Makers Adapt to Higher Cross-Border Costs

• The Trump administration's expanded Section 232 tariffs are forcing manufacturers that import trailers into the US to rethink pricing and sales strategies, with potential ripple effects across the utility, cargo, and specialty trailer industry. In July, Canadian-based Off Grid Trailers announced it will temporarily absorb up to 50% of the new 25% tariff on qualifying US orders rather than pass the full cost to customers. The policy applies the tariff to the full customs value of finished steel- and aluminum-intensive trailers, significantly increasing import costs; for one Expedition model, the estimated tariff is $9,200. The move illustrates how manufacturers with cross-border production may sacrifice margins or offer incentives to remain competitive. US-based trailer manufacturers could benefit if higher import costs shift demand toward domestic producers, while companies relying on imported trailers or components may face continued pricing pressure and margin challenges.
• Transportation equipment manufacturers outperformed the broader US manufacturing sector in June, with growth across most key business indicators even as overall factory activity expanded at a slower pace, according to the Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The ISM Manufacturing PMI slipped 0.7 points to 53.3, marking the manufacturing sector's sixth consecutive month of expansion, while new orders and production remained positive and employment continued to contract. Transportation equipment ranked among the six largest industries reporting overall growth and recorded expanding new orders, production, employment, inventories, and imports. The segment also experienced slower supplier deliveries and higher input prices, reflecting ongoing supply chain constraints and cost pressures, while new export orders and order backlogs contracted. Survey respondents cited continued tariff-related profitability challenges despite improving supply capacity in Asia-Pacific. Overall, transportation equipment manufacturers outperformed the broader manufacturing industry but continue to face headwinds from rising costs and weaker export demand.
• June's slowdown in trailer orders signals softer near-term demand for US utility, cargo, and specialty trailer manufacturers, although improving freight fundamentals suggest conditions could stabilize later this year, according to ACT Research. Net US trailer orders fell to 13,500 units in June, down 35% from May and 9% from a year earlier, reflecting a seasonal slowdown. Cancellation rates improved to 1.0% of backlog from 1.9% in May, signaling greater order stability despite broad-based cancellations across trailer segments. Net orders exceeded production for the fourth time in six months, but manufacturers still built about 4,500 more trailers than were ordered, shrinking already thin backlogs by 5% month over month. For utility cargo and specialty trailer manufacturers, the report suggests demand remains uneven, making production planning and capacity utilization challenging. However, rising freight rates, improving equipment orders, and greater policy clarity could support a gradual recovery in customer demand.
• A projected 7.9% increase in the US trailer market to $69.7 billion in 2026 signals favorable long-term demand for the US utility cargo and specialty trailer manufacturing industry, though rising steel and aluminum tariffs are increasing production costs and pricing pressure, according to a Trailer Shopper forecast. Growth is being driven by e-commerce freight, smart trailer adoption, and expanding cold chain logistics demand, with particularly strong interest in enclosed cargo trailers. These trends create opportunities for manufacturers to develop higher-value products with advanced features such as GPS tracking and temperature controls. However, higher material costs, competitive market conditions, and evolving state regulations could challenge profitability and require continued focus on product innovation, compliance, and operational efficiency. Manufacturers that align production with growing freight and logistics trends may be best positioned to capture future demand.

Industry size & Structure

A typical utility, cargo and specialty trailer manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs 103 workers, and generates about $36 million annually.

• The utility, cargo, and specialty trailer manufacturing industry consists of about 1,026 companies that employ about 106,000 workers and generate about $37 billion annually.
• Customers include construction and landscaping firms, horse and livestock owners, towing services, trucking companies, logging operations, water tour operators, trailer rental firms, food truck up-fitters, and those needing to transport vehicles, equipment or other cargo.
• Large companies include Sundowner, Kaufman, RollingStar, and Wilson Trailer.