New registrations of commercial trailers in the U.S. hit 254,700 units in 2015, representing the third highest volume of new trailer registrations since 2000, according to a report from IHS Automotive.

The volume of trailer registrations last year was a 1% increase from 2014 and a substantial jump from 2009. That was when new trailer registrations hit their lowest point since IHS began tracking the numbers in 1985.

Growth in the trailer market is being driven by the van segment, including refrigerated units. Van trailer registrations were up 1.6% in 2015 at 177,400 units, representing 70% of all total commercial trailer registrations.

Trailers and tractors registrations usually coincide with each other and there was strong demand for Class 8 vehicles in 2015 as well, according to IHS.

"There seems to be a strong relationship between the registration of new commercial tractors (day cabs and sleepers) and new commercial van trailer registrations, based on the data,” said Gary Meteer, director, commercial vehicle solutions at IHS Automotive. ““While the level of increase or decrease is not the same, the direction does align.”

There were also strong gains in the container chassis and flatbed trailer segments, which grew by 13.8% and 9.3% respectively. However, grain trailers and dump trailers declined significantly in 2015,k falling 19.7% and 15.5% when compared to 2014.

To obtain the full 2015 Year-end Commercial Vehicles Report, click here.