Class 8 Truck Orders

Class 8 Truck Orders

April 2025 Update

As of March 2025, the Class 8 truck market continues to normalize following a period of elevated ordering in late 2024. Order activity remains measured, with for-hire carriers maintaining a cautious approach to capital investment. Fleets are responding to ongoing freight market softness, high interest rates, and shifting regulatory signals, including emissions rule reviews and new tariff pressures.

One notable shift this month was a jump in cancellations, reaching the highest level in nearly two years. While still historically modest, this suggests growing concern about the second-half freight outlook and overall economic visibility.

Vocational demand remains more resilient, supported by infrastructure and municipal projects, but momentum has slowed. Recent freezes on federal funding tied to major legislative acts introduced uncertainty into previously supportive segments.

Class 8 Truck Orders Snapshot
Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for March totaled approximately 16,500 units, down from February. On a seasonally adjusted basis, orders stood at around 16,900 units. Cancellations rose to their highest point since mid-2023, with a notable uptick in post-COVID pullbacks.

Fleet ordering continues to focus on maintaining existing equipment and managing operating costs. Tractor orders held steady compared to a year ago, while vocational truck orders declined month-over-month. Build rates averaged 1,179 units per day, slightly lower than February, and backlogs eased to 132,200 units. With Q2 build slots nearly full and Q3 planning showing available capacity, the market remains in balance for fleets focused on replacement rather than expansion.

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.