Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders see mixed results

Preliminary May Class 8 truck net orders saw sequential gains and annual declines, according to data respectively issued this week by FTR and ACT Research.

FTR reported that preliminary May Class 8 truck net orders, at 12,000 units, were up 40% compared to April, while falling 47% annually, with the firm observing that orders were well below the seven-year May average of 18,319 orders. What’s more, it said this marked the lowest tally for May orders going back to 2020. And FTR said that orders for the last 12 months through May came in at 260,355 units.

FTR explained that the improvement over April may be resultant of the lowering—at least temporarily—of tariffs on many countries versus the steep levels announced in early April, especially the lowering of tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. But even with the sequential improvement, it said the annual decline was steep, adding that net orders in 2025 were down 32% annually through May, and retail truck sales in 2025 were down 11% annually through April.

“Tariff volatility and uncertainty over the economy and the truck freight market continue to disrupt the North American Class 8 truck and tractor market,” said Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles. “Legal challenges surrounding emergency tariffs (reciprocal tariffs and those related to fentanyl) and the potential introduction of Section 232 tariffs on Classes 4-8 trucks and their components adds further uncertainty to the market environment. Coupled with the anticipated revisions to the EPA 2027 NOx standards, these factors have led many fleets to postpone equipment investment decisions.”

ACT data: ACT reported that its preliminary tally of May Class 8 truck net orders, at 13,200 units, showed sequential improvement, while falling 44% annually.

“Given the uncertainty around ‘Liberation Day’ in April’s data that sent order activity across the board to 59-month lows, it’s little surprise preliminary order activity for May showed m/m improvement, with total NA Classes 5-8 net orders expected at 26,400 units when released mid-month,” said Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “Though, it’s worth highlighting two things: 1) Continued trade uncertainty will slow order activity, and 2) We have now entered the weakest seasonal period for orders, so improvement, if any, likely won’t reveal itself until the opening of 2026 order boards in Q3 of this year.”