North American Class 8, Class 5-7 truck orders fall over 20% YoY

North American heavy-duty and medium-duty truck orders declined year over year in August for the eighth straight month, as regulatory and tariff uncertainty led to economic and consumer pessimism. 

North American Class 8 truck net orders dropped 21% year over year in August to 12,844 units, according to a report Sept. 18 by ACT Research. While August typically features weaker truck orders, this August represented an abnormal level, although it did fit with 2025 trends, Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research, said in the report. 

“Current tariff and regulatory purgatory continue to sow industry uncertainty,” he said in the release. 

Meanwhile, tractor orders fell 34% YoY to 7,493 units, while vocational truck orders also declined 7.8% YoY to 5,351 units, according to the release. Medium-duty, Class 5 to Class 7, orders also dropped, down 24% YoY to 14,613 units, Vieth said. 

“Medium-duty orders have slowed notably this year, as still elevated inventories, a weaker economic outlook, and notable increased consumer pessimism weigh on medium-duty demand,” he said. 

Overall transportation market remains weak 

In addition to truck orders declining across the heavy-duty and medium-duty market, Equipment Finance News’ Index of Commercial Trucks and Trailers Available for Sale and Lease landed at 79.7 today, down 12.3% month over month. The interactive index, based on data collected by EFN since November 2024, updates daily and serves as a reference point for truck-supply trends. 

Although parts of the economy appear strong, challenges persist, with transportation still lagging and requiring a selective approach, Bobby Campbell, senior managing director and head of commercial equipment finance at Gordon Brothers, told EFN. 

“Now is not the time that we’re going to go full bore and load up on those assets, not yet,” he said. “Not without the right type of structure that takes some of the risk off the table.” 

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