Class 8 Truck Orders

Class 8 Truck Orders

July 2025 Update

As of June 2025, the Class 8 truck market remains in a downturn, with order activity continuing to underperform amid prolonged freight softness and stubborn macroeconomic headwinds. Fleet sentiment is increasingly conservative, as margin compression, high-interest rates, and delayed regulatory clarity weigh heavily on capital investment decisions. Public carrier operating margins remain near decade-plus lows, limiting appetite for equipment purchases beyond basic replacement.

Cancellations rose again in June, marking the second consecutive month of accelerated pullbacks. Although overall cancellation rates remain manageable, the trend reflects a deteriorating outlook for the second half of the year. Several OEMs have initiated further production line slowdowns and targeted workforce reductions, confirming reduced confidence in near-term demand.

The vocational market, while more insulated, is beginning to feel the impact of stalled public sector spending. June saw a second straight month of softening in government and municipal-related truck orders, exacerbated by uncertainty around the timing and scope of infrastructure funding allocations at both the state and federal level.

Class 8 Truck Orders Snapshot

Preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for June totaled approximately 9,100 units, up sequentially from May’s weak result but still down significantly year-over-year. Seasonally adjusted figures continue to point to demand levels well below historical norms and beneath replacement needs.

Fleet ordering behavior remains centered on maintaining uptime and controlling total cost of ownership, rather than growth or fleet expansion. Year-over-year, tractor orders declined again, while vocational orders slipped for a second straight month, reinforcing the broader demand deceleration. With Q3 build slots underbooked and OEMs beginning to adjust production schedules, the market tone is shifting from caution to contraction.

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.