Class 8 Truck Orders
Class 8 Truck Orders in June 2025
Class 8 Truck Orders
June 2025 Update
As of May 2025, the Class 8 truck market continues to face headwinds, with order activity falling sharply amid deepening freight softness and elevated economic uncertainty. Fleets remain highly cautious on capital spending, influenced by persistent margin pressure, high inventories, tariff-driven equipment price increases, and regulatory ambiguity around emissions standards. Public carrier margins have dropped to 15-year lows, further constraining appetite for new purchases.
A notable development this month was a continued rise in cancellations, reaching the highest level since mid-2023. While not yet at disruptive levels, this trend reflects growing concern about the second-half freight environment and macroeconomic visibility. OEMs have begun cutting into their labor force, a sign of growing pressure at the front-end of the demand cycle.
Vocational demand remains more stable but showed signs of slowing in May, with government policy uncertainty driving the newfound weakness in that segment. Delays in federal infrastructure disbursements have introduced further hesitation in segments previously buoyed by policy support.
Class 8 Truck Orders Snapshot
Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for May totaled approximately 7,500 units, a modest recovery from April's dismal 4,019, but still down year-over-year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, orders remain well below replacement demand.
Fleet ordering continues to prioritize equipment replacement and cost control. Tractor orders declined year-over-year, while vocational truck orders also weakened month-over-month. With Q2 build slots largely full and Q3 capacity more available, the market remains in a holding pattern centered on preservation rather than expansion.
With cancellations elevated and both tractor and vocational orders retreating, the industry’s challenge in 2025 has shifted from managing production volume to aligning build rates with a cautious replacement environment, soft freight fundamentals, tariff-driven cost pressures, and growing uncertainty around EPA emissions rules and infrastructure funding delays.
Kenny Vieth
President & Senior Analyst
To learn more about the current dynamics in the commercial vehicle industry, check out the State of the Industry reports. And to see what ACT forecasts will happen in the Class 8 market over the next few years, check out the North America commercial vehicle forecast.
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