Unexpected Boom: Trailer Leasing Demand Hits Record Highs

The trailer market is experiencing an unexpected surge, with utilization rates surpassing even pandemic levels. Craig Barth, CFO at Premier Trailer Leasing, breaks down why this supply-side driven boom is happening, the shift in demand for older equipment, and critical fraud warnings for those seeking rentals. We also dive into how fleets are navigating CapEx decisions and the importance of preventive maintenance to keep trailers on the road.

Trailer leasing utilization at Premier Trailer Leasing has climbed to the highest levels the company has ever recorded, surpassing even peak pandemic-era demand — a development its CFO says caught the industry off guard. The driver is not a surge in freight volumes but a contraction in supply: carriers running older equipment have been exiting the market, leaving those that remain competing for newer trailers from leasing companies.

“The trailer market right now is extremely hot. It is something we honestly did not see coming at the beginning of this year,” said Craig Barth, CFO of Premier Trailer Leasing. “Today, our utilization is running as high as it ever has, even beating some of our peak utilization during the pandemic.”

This story was originally published by FreightWaves. Read the full story at FreightWaves →