Preliminary June Class 8 net orders see declines

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

FTR reported that preliminary June Class 8 truck net orders, at 8,900 units, fell 25% compared to May and were down 36% annually. The firm noted that although June typically experiences a modest sequential increase, ongoing tariff volatility coupled with economic and freight market uncertainty led many fleets to scale back their orders. And it added that net orders were significantly below the 10-year average of 19,213 units for June and were the lowest for a June since 2009. What’s more, the firm said that both on-highway and vocational segments experienced reduced demand compared to the previous month, though the on-highway segment accounted for most of the decline. For the 2025 order season so far (September 2024 through June 2025), net orders are down 15%. Class 8 orders for the past 12 months came in at 255,265.

FTR added that ongoing tariff volatility and economic/freight uncertainty continue to disrupt the N.A. Class 8 truck/tractor market as illustrated by the significant 32% annual decline in net orders during 2025 to date. Recent tariff hikes—most notably the increase from 25% to 50% on steel, aluminum, and fabricated components that took effect June 4—have significantly raised production costs as demand has deteriorated. Other tariffs are still in flux. The U.S. announced a trade deal with Vietnam this week, but imports from other countries continue to incur a baseline 10% tariff—more for China and certain imports from Mexico and China—pending negotiations.

“Market uncertainty is further heightened by the potential implementation of Section 232 tariffs on Class 8 trucks and their components along with anticipated revisions to EPA 2027 NOx emissions standards,” said Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles. “As a result, many fleets are postponing equipment purchases. Record-high inventories are placing additional downward pressure on demand and production.”

ACT data: ACT reported that preliminary Class 8 orders, at 9,400 units, fell 36% annually.

“Publicly traded for-hire fleets ended Q1’25 with the weakest net income margins since Q1’10,” said Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “Private fleets have spent the past two years adding fleet capacity and have little need for additional supply. On the vocational side, worsening housing and construction markets and regulation uncertainty has sapped strength that looked all but certain at the beginning of the year,” shared Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. He continued, “With that in mind, preliminary Class 8 orders totaled 9,400 units, down 36% [annually].”