Final North American Class 8 net orders for November weren’t much better than preliminary estimates as the new truck market remains stuck in the mud.
ACT Research reported Friday its final orders for last month at 19,547 units, down 48% year over year. For Class 8 tractors, specifically, the market was down 55% year over year, falling to 12,879 units. For vocational trucks, November orders were off by 22% from 2024 at 6,668 units.
“While EPA 2027 clarity is positive, ongoing lack of for-hire carrier profitability is the main bottleneck for improved new vehicle demand. While supply has started to come out of the market, demand is soft, with cyclical freight generating sectors lagging,” says Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research.
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He continues, “Vocational, like the tractor market, continues to be affected in the short to medium term by policy fluctuations. Though unlike the tractor market, tailwinds related to AI infrastructure and the necessary utility buildout, coupled with regulatory clarity around EPA 2027, are likely to benefit vocational trucks in the short term, as planning for 2027 is now clearer.”
The medium-duty market had a better month, Vieth says, slipping by just 3.1% year over year to 16,262 units.
“Being a largely services-oriented market, medium-duty demand has slowed this year on tariffs and slowing services growth. Consumer sentiment is now at levels typically reserved for recessions,” he says.
