Preliminary Class 8 truck orders clocked in at 13,000 and 13,200 units in August, FTR and ACT Research reported Wednesday.
The estimates were up slightly from July but were down around 15% from August 2024 and even further from the 10-year August average. FTR adds last month’s total is the eighth straight month of annual decline, with the 10-year monthly average now 23,135 units.
“A beleaguered for-hire market continues to weigh on Class 8 orders,” says Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research. “With elevated uncertainty, particularly around equipment costs, and soft activity in housing and broad freight demand outside of pre-tariff activity, this environment may persist.”
FTR also cites continued fleet caution amid trade frictions, tariff volatility and broader economic uncertainty weighing on freight demand as reasons for the depressed totals. The company states orders have totaled 251,997 units over the last 12 months.
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“The North American Class 8 truck and tractor market faces growing pressure from tariffs, near-record inventory, regulatory uncertainty and weak freight demand,” says Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst, commercial vehicles. “Tariff increases imposed on Aug. 7 raised costs on vehicles, parts and key inputs.
“A recent federal appeals court ruling casts doubt about the legality of country-specific ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, although those tariffs remain in place until at least Oct. 14, pending U.S. Supreme Court review. By contrast, Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper are unaffected by that court ruling and may soon expand to trucks, components and semiconductors, adding further risk.”
“Fleet margin pressure has not abated, with contract rates hardly budging and cost pressures ongoing,” says Denoyer. “Vocational demand has taken its knocks as well this year on a combination of regulatory uncertainty, tariffs and elevated interest rates, though data centers remain an area of strong activity.”
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On a segment basis, FTR indicates vocational and on-highway showed modest improvement in August though on-highway demand remains subdued as many carriers in long-haul markets prioritize asset utilization over fleet growth.
Moyer also notes the impact potential EPA regulatory retractions are having on future purchasing decisions.
“Uncertainty over 2027 EPA NOx standards is already delaying some fleet purchases and softening near-term demand, while tariff pressures could further suppress 2026 order activity,” he says.
Overall, FTR reports for the 2025 order cycle of Sept. 2024 to date, orders have fallen 15% year over year. Absent a rebound in freight fundamentals, the company adds fleet order activity is expected to remain muted as the 2026 order boards open this month, limiting near-term capacity additions and delaying freight rate recovery.
“Fleets are extending truck lifespans and incurring higher maintenance costs. Suppliers are squeezed by input inflation and uneven demand. Dealers are leaning on used equipment and service. And OEMs face profitability pressure, volatile schedules, and greater supply chain exposure. Until tariff and regulatory paths are clarified, the outlook will remain unsettled,” Moyer says.
In the medium-duty space, ACT estimates Classes 5-7 orders of 14,400 units, up 1,250 vehicles from July but down 25% year over year. “Historically, August is the beginning of stronger orders for Classes 5-7 vehicles as school bus order season gets underway,” says Steve Tam, vice president and analyst.
