ACT Research announced its final Class 8 truck orders for June at 9,463 units Monday.
The number was in line with its preliminary estimate from earlier in the month, and further showcases the extreme softening of demand.
“Weak fundamentals, current regressive trade policy, and uncertainty over the every-changing carousel of new tariff rates/deadlines impedes decision making,” says Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research. “The pain is especially pronounced in the for-hire market, as we’ve now entered the 13th quarter of freight recession in that market segment.”
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He adds, “Fleets are cash strapped, and with tariffs raising the cost of equipment and impacting goods demand, fleets either can’t afford new equipment or have little need for it. Consequently, tractor orders were down 42% year over year. Vocational orders were down 23% year over year, as equipment price increases, regulatory uncertainty and softness in housing and private construction have greatly reduced demand for vocational equipment.”
The Classes 5-7 space did not fare better in June, Vieth adds.
“Total Classes 5-7 orders fell 40% year over year to 12,387 units. Medium-duty orders have slowed across the past six months, as current bloated inventories and a weaker economic outlook weigh on new orders,” he says.
