U.S. trailer net order numbers in March missed analyst projections, coming in well below expectations, according to an FTR report.
Trailer Orders Come in Well Below Expectations
U.S. trailer net order numbers in March missed analyst projections, coming in well below expectations, according to FTR report.

With 13,800 units ordered for the month, trailer numbers were down 35% from February and 39% compared from a year ago. March posted the worst order activity since July of 2013.
Despite the disappointing month, orders in the past 12 months have totaled a healthy 291,000 units and backlogs are only down 6% year-over-year.
“The long, strong run of the trailer market finally appears to be moderating,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles. “Backlogs are still robust, so production should be steady for the next several months.”
Dump trailers orders were the highest of any segment with all others declining for the month. Dry van orders were low because most fleets placed 2016 orders as far back as August 2015.
Trailer build was flat for the third consecutive month with the exception being refrigerated vans, whose build was up 11% per day.
“Dry van orders were weak because the vast majority of fleets placed their 2016 orders from August 2015 through February 2016. A large chunk of these orders were to replace older units that were not upgraded due to the aftermath of the Great Recession,” said Ake. “The big question now is how solid the backlog will be if the economy remains stagnant.”
More Fleet Management

ATA’s Spear Warns Fuel Prices, Trade Policy, and Global Conflict Could Stall Trucking Recovery
Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.
Read More →
New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Invited to Apply for Exclusive HDT Exchange Event
HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.
Read More →
DAT Launches iPhone Widget to Help Owner-Operators Find Loads Faster
New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.
Read More →
Optimal Dynamics Launches AI System to Help Carriers Choose Better Freight
Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.
Read More →
DAT: Flatbed Demand Climbs as Van and Reefer Rates Soften
DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.
Read More →
Run on Less “Messy Middle” Data Shows Multiple Paths Forward for Truck Powertrains [Watch]
NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.
Read More →
Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue
A federal court ruling allows New York City’s congestion pricing program to continue, leaving truck tolls in place for fleets delivering into Manhattan.
Read More →
Fontaine Modification Launches Real-Time Truck Modification Tracking Portal
Fontaine Modification has introduced a new customer portal designed to give fleets real-time visibility into the truck modification process, addressing one of the most common questions fleet managers face: “Where’s my truck?”
Read More →
FTR: Trucking Conditions Index Climbs to Highest Level Since 2022
Strong freight rates, rising volumes and tighter capacity push trucking conditions higher, though diesel prices could temper gains in the near term, FTR cautions.
Read More →
