It’s been a long time since we’ve announced a new market report, but we’re pleased to do so today with our Truck Trailer & Small Trailer market report. However, whereas our previous reports were based on our own research and data, the Truck Trailer & Small Trailer report is based on new entries on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) for the first quarter of 2025.
The RAV, maintained under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA), includes vehicles approved for supply to the Australian market, whether new or used. It is important to note that inclusion on the RAV reflects regulatory approval, not actual sales. As such, a vehicle may be registered on the RAV without being sold immediately, or even at all.
Despite this limitation, RAV data offers valuable insight into which brands and models are actively entering the market and how approval volumes are shifting over time. This can be a useful proxy for supply-side activity, shifts in manufacturer output, and changing market preferences.
In this report, we break down the figures for truck trailers and small trailers, identifying, comparing and contrasting notable movements in approval volume and market share between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025.
A Note on Methodology
Due to the profusion of small-scale manufacturers active in both the truck trailer and small trailer segments, and the proportion of the market they account for, it was impractical to list every minor manufacturer individually. Consequently, we decided to categorise these small manufacturers under the broad title of ‘Other makes’, with the top 10 manufacturers in each segment reserved for large, notable brands such as Vawdrey, Maxitrans, etc.
Truck Trailers
The first quarter of 2025 saw a noticeable contraction in the number of truck trailers approved for supply to the Australian market, with total entries on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) falling from 4,799 to 3,923 — a year-on-year decline of 18.2%. While this doesn’t represent confirmed sales, it does reflect a slowdown in supply activity across most major brands. Only a handful of manufacturers recorded stable or rising entries, suggesting some shifting dynamics in brand consideration or production focus.
Top Five Manufacturers
Vawdrey retained its position as the leading named manufacturer in terms of RAV entries, though not without setbacks. Its approvals dropped from 580 to 409 units, a 29.5% decline, and its share of total entries fell from 12.1% to 10.4% — a relative decline of 14%. This slip was enough for it to narrowly hold onto the top spot among named brands, though the gap is closing.
Maxitrans, which held the highest volume of entries in Q1 2024, experienced the most severe contraction. Its entries fell from 605 to 298, cutting its market share from 12.6% to 7.6%, a 39.7% relative decline. This sharp drop suggests a major pullback in supply, approvals, or production scheduling.
Jamieson saw its RAV approvals fall from 268 to 213 units, a 20.5% decline, but its market share remained relatively steady, shifting from 5.6% to 5.4%. This stability suggests its performance remained in line with broader market trends.
Bruce Rock Engineering was the standout performer among the top five. While its volume rose only slightly from 206 to 209 units, this growth during a downturn lifted its market share from 4.3% to 5.3%, a relative increase of 23.3%. This upward movement allowed Bruce Rock to leapfrog into fourth place overall.
Rounding out the top five, Howard Porter declined from 148 to 131 units, but maintained its market share position relatively well, dipping only slightly from 3.1% to 3.3%, aided by the broader contraction across the market.
The Rest of the Top 10
Further down the rankings, several mid-tier brands showed surprising strength. Krueger saw a drop in entries from 124 to 108 units, yet still managed to lift its market share from 2.6% to 2.8% — a 7.7% relative gain. This suggests that while volume fell, it declined at a slower rate than the overall market.
Lionel Moore followed a similar pattern, with entries slipping from 96 to 93, but market share increasing from 2.0% to 2.4%, a 20% relative gain. FWR also improved its position, posting a small decline in volume (93 to 88) but lifting its share from 1.9% to 2.2%, or a 15.8% gain relative to last year.
FTE Trailers returned to the top 10 with a modest increase in approvals, rising from 65 to 72 units, an increase of 10.8%. In a quarter where most brands declined, this made FTE one of the few brands to post absolute growth.
Market Fragmentation and the Role of 'Other Makes'
Beyond the top 10, the ‘Other makes’ category continued to dominate the segment, accounting for 40.3% of total approvals — virtually unchanged from 40.4% in Q1 2024. Despite a drop in raw volume from 1,938 to 1,582, this consistent share reflects the resilience and importance of smaller or niche manufacturers, many of which likely cater to specific contract builds or regional markets.
While the large-volume brands were disproportionately impacted by the downturn, these smaller manufacturers held firm. Their consistent presence highlights the fragmented nature of the Australian truck trailer market and underlines the growing role of non-major brands in meeting local demand.
Small Trailers
New approvals on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) for small trailers rose slightly in Q1 2025, increasing from 29,230 to 29,795, a modest year-on-year growth of 1.9%. While the overall market expanded, brand-level trends reveal considerable movement beneath the surface. A number of established names lost ground in both volume and market share, while several emerging or mid-tier players made strong gains. The dominance of the ‘Other makes’ category also began to ease, suggesting a mild consolidation among leading manufacturers.
Top Five Manufacturers
Victorian Trailers rose to the top of the leaderboard this quarter, increasing its RAV entries from 2,112 to 2,378 units, a 12.6% gain. Its market share also improved from 7.2% to 8.0%, a relative increase of 11.1%. This growth allowed it to overtake Stonegate Industries, which previously held the top spot but saw a sharp decline.
Stonegate Industries recorded the most significant volume drop in the top five, with entries falling from 3,465 to 2,288, a 34% decline. As a result, its share dropped from 11.9% to 7.7%, equating to a 35.3% relative decline. Despite the setback, it held onto second place overall.
Telwater Trailers also lost ground, declining from 1,621 to 1,210 approvals, down 25.4%. This caused its market share to fall from 5.5% to 4.1%, a 25.5% relative decrease, pushing it back to third among top brands.
Century Trailers climbed to fourth position with a strong performance, growing from 782 to 991 entries, a 26.7% increase. Its market share rose from 2.7% to 3.3%, reflecting a 22.2% relative gain, one of the strongest improvements across the category.
Dunbier completed the top five, increasing from 862 to 944 units, a 9.5% rise. Its market share lifted from 2.9% to 3.2%, a 10.3% relative gain, indicating consistent market presence and improved standing in the segment.
The Rest of the Top 10
The Bigman Trailers maintained upward momentum, growing its RAV entries from 601 to 839 units, a 39.6% increase. Its market share rose from 2.1% to 2.8%, a 33.3% relative gain, making it one of the most improved brands this quarter.
King Kong Trailers posted the largest volume increase among named brands, rising from 437 to 723 entries, a jump of 65.4%. Its share climbed from 1.5% to 2.4%, or a 60% relative gain, showing strong acceleration in brand footprint.
Coastmac Trailers remained steady, lifting from 566 to 573 entries, with market share unchanged at 1.9%. This marginal growth allowed it to retain a foothold in the lower half of the top 10.
John Papas Trailers made a dramatic entrance into the top 10, surging from just 44 approvals in Q3 2024 to 570 in Q3 2025 — a staggering 1,195.5% increase. Its share grew from 0.2% to 1.9%, reflecting a relative gain of over 850%. While this appears to be off a low base, the scale of growth suggests a strategic expansion or product release that gained serious traction.
Zhenjiang – Swt Metal rounded out the top 10, slipping from 566 to 551 units. Its market share declined slightly from 1.9% to 1.9%, effectively flat. Though overtaken by newer or faster-growing names, it maintained a stable volume year-on-year.
Market Fragmentation and the Role of 'Other Makes'
While approvals for named brands grew, ‘Other makes’ still accounted for nearly half the market. Their combined share declined from 52.3% to 48.7%, marking a 6.9% relative drop, even as total volume fell modestly from 15,274 to 14,515. This shift suggests a gradual consolidation as more entries are attributed to established, trackable manufacturers.
That said, the ‘Other makes’ category remains vital in this segment. Thousands of units continue to be approved under unlisted or low-volume builders — likely a mix of custom trailers, regional producers, or importers that fall below the reporting threshold. These smaller contributors remain crucial to meeting diverse and often localised demand across the country.
Trust Retain Media for Industry-Leading Insights
From shifting dynamics in the truck trailer segment to rapid brand movements in small trailers, this quarter’s data points to a market in transition. While major names like Maxitrans and Stonegate Industries saw declines, brands such as Bruce Rock Engineering, Victorian Trailers, and John Papas Trailers capitalised on emerging opportunities.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the shifts and will be back with our second instalment of this report when the latest figures are released by the BITRE. Until then, be sure to check out our other market reports and get clear, actionable insights so you can stay ahead in a changing landscape.
