NAICS 336212 Quarterly Industry Report
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 336212Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 336212 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[7]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to truck trailer manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the truck trailer manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Truck Trailer Manufacturing (NAICS 336212) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing truck trailers and semi-trailers for highway use. Products include dry van trailers for enclosed general freight, refrigerated trailers (reefers) for temperature-controlled cargo, flatbed trailers for construction materials and machinery, tank trailers for liquid and dry bulk commodities, lowboy and drop-deck trailers for heavy hauling, and intermodal chassis for container transport. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry under motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing.
Roughly 442 active businesses employ an estimated 36,800 workers in this industry. Dry van trailers account for the largest share of annual production, with industry output closely tied to freight transportation volumes and fleet replacement cycles. A few large manufacturers including Great Dane, Wabash National, Utility Trailer, and Hyundai Translead produce the majority of standard dry van and reefer trailers. Numerous smaller firms serve specialty segments including tank trailers, logging trailers, and custom heavy-haul equipment.
Manufacturing involves steel and aluminum frame fabrication, panel bonding or riveting, floor system assembly, axle and suspension installation, and finishing operations including lighting, reflective conspicuity tape, and regulatory placarding. Dry van construction has shifted substantially from steel to aluminum and composite sidewall panels to reduce tare weight and increase payload capacity. Refrigerated trailer production adds insulated wall and roof panel construction plus refrigeration unit mounting and pre-delivery testing. Most trailers ship from the factory on their own running gear, with dealer prep limited to final inspection and customer-specified accessories. Trailer pricing depends heavily on steel and aluminum commodity costs, which fluctuate with global metals markets.
What's Included in This Industry
- Dry van semi-trailer manufacturing
- Refrigerated trailer production
- Flatbed and drop-deck trailer manufacturing
- Tank trailer production for liquid and bulk cargo
- Intermodal chassis and container chassis manufacturing
- Lowboy and heavy haul trailer production
- Curtain-side and open-top trailer manufacturing
- Logging and timber trailer production
- Dump trailer manufacturing
- Grain hopper and commodity trailer production
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336 |
| Industry Group | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 3362 |
| NAICS Industry | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 33621 |
| National Industry | Truck Trailer Manufacturing | 336212 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 336211 | Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing | Manufactures motor vehicle bodies and cabs that mount permanently onto chassis rather than the towed semi-trailers and full trailers produced for highway freight hauling here |
| 336120 | Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing | Produces heavy duty truck tractors that pull the semi-trailers manufactured in this classification rather than the trailers themselves designed for towing behind power units |
| 336214 | Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing | Manufactures travel trailers and campers for recreational use rather than the commercial freight, tank, and flatbed trailers produced for highway cargo transportation here |
| 336213 | Motor Home Manufacturing | Produces motor homes as self-propelled recreational vehicles rather than the towed commercial freight trailers and semi-trailers manufactured in this industry |
| 336390 | Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures motor vehicle parts including axle assemblies and suspension components that are installed during trailer assembly rather than the complete trailer units produced here |
| 332439 | Other Metal Container Manufacturing | Fabricates light gauge metal containers and enclosures classified separately from the large aluminum and steel trailer bodies manufactured for highway freight transportation |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 14.7% | 80 |
| 2 | Indiana | 7.2% | 39 |
| 3 | California | 5.7% | 31 |
| 4 | Ohio | 5.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 5.3% | 29 |
| 6 | Florida | 4.8% | 26 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 4.6% | 25 |
| 8 | Iowa | 4.0% | 22 |
| 9 | Georgia | 2.9% | 16 |
| 10 | Alabama | 2.8% | 15 |
% Of Establishments
0%
15%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
128
Total SBA Loans
$129.3M
Total Loan Volume
$1.0M
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.50%
Average Interest Rate
2,144
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 336212 at 1,000 employees. Firms below this threshold qualify for small business set-aside contracts and SBA-backed lending programs. Federal procurement includes flatbed and van trailers for military logistics, tank trailers for fuel distribution, and specialty trailers for Department of Defense equipment transport. The SBA's contracting programs[8] support manufacturers pursuing Defense Logistics Agency and General Services Administration trailer supply contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[10] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 40 | $49.3M | $1.2M |
| 2 | Cadence Bank | 8 | $34.7M | $4.3M |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 24 | $31.5M | $1.3M |
| 4 | Colony Bank | 8 | $9.3M | $1.2M |
| 5 | BayFirst National Bank | 16 | $1.8M | $113K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 336212?
Manufacturers of truck trailers and semi-trailers for highway use classify here. Products include dry van trailers, refrigerated trailers, flatbed trailers, tank trailers, lowboy trailers, intermodal chassis, and dump trailers per the Census Bureau[5] classification.
How is the truck trailer manufacturing industry structured?
Roughly 442 businesses employ an estimated 36,800 workers per Census data[11]. Four large manufacturers dominate dry van and reefer production while numerous smaller firms build specialty trailers including tank, logging, and heavy-haul equipment for niche freight applications.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 336212?
The SBA[7] sets the threshold at 1,000 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,000 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to truck trailer manufacturing?
Related codes include 336211 (Vehicle Bodies), 336120 (Heavy Trucks), 336214 (Travel Trailers), 336213 (Motor Homes), 336390 (Vehicle Parts), and 332439 (Metal Containers). Each covers either complete vehicles, recreational trailers, or component manufacturing distinct from commercial highway trailer production.
What industries purchase truck trailers?
Freight carriers, truck manufacturers, steel producers, vehicle wholesalers, and trailer leasing companies interact most directly. For-hire trucking fleets and private fleet operators drive the majority of new trailer demand, with replacement cycle timing and freight volume driving purchase decisions throughout the year.
What activities are included in NAICS 336212?
Activities include fabricating steel and aluminum trailer frames, assembling composite and sheet metal sidewall panels, installing axles and air ride suspension systems, constructing insulated refrigerated trailer bodies, mounting refrigeration units, assembling tank trailer shells and internal baffles, and finishing trailers with lighting, placarding, and DOT-required safety equipment.
Can truck trailer manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,000 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[8] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Robotic welding systems, panel bonding fixtures, CNC plasma cutting equipment, and paint booth installations represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are truck trailer manufacturers concentrated?
Production concentrates in the Midwest and Central states near steel suppliers and freight corridor intersections. Indiana hosts the largest cluster of trailer manufacturing facilities, with additional concentrations in Iowa, Arkansas, Texas, and California. Proximity to major interstate highway networks and steel service centers influences plant location for manufacturers shipping large, low-value-density products that incur high freight costs.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loans sba.gov
- [11]Census data naicslist.com
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