Trailer telematics and sensor technol­ogy continue to advance, and providers said they’re offering much more than simple track-and-trace applications.

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. unveiled plans Sept. 11 for a joint venture with Germany’s Schmitz Cargobull Corp. that will be known as Cargobull North America.

Production of trailers in the United States is set to decline for five consecutive quarters before increasing in the final three months of 2024, according to one expert.

Mexican truck parts and trailer specialist Fultra bought trailer manufacturer East Manufacturing, the companies said.

Trailer manufacturer Wabash National posted a 6.8% increase in net sales in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. 

The new leader of Hyundai Translead said that while the trailer market was softer through the first half of this year compared with year-ago levels, he sees pockets of strength heading into 2024.

U.S. trailer orders more than halved in May compared with a year ago to an estimated 9,100 units, according to data released by ACT Research.

Hinton Transportation Investments Inc. (HTI) acquired Chicago-based U.S. Trailer Parts & Supply Inc., a distributor of heavy-duty trailer parts, it said June 6.

U.S. trailer orders dropped by nearly half from the year-ago total to an estimated 10,000 units in April, ACT Research reported.

Some carriers are using technology designed to help prevent drivers from picking up the wrong trailer, and some telematics vendors are developing tractor-trailer pairing capability.