Orders remained well below the 10-year October average of 31,198 units, as fleets continued to delay replacement and expansion plans.
FTR reports that preliminary net orders for Class 8 trucks and tractors in North America (NA) totaled 24,300 units in October – up 18% month-over-month (MOM) but down 22% year-over-year (YoY), marking the 10th straight month of year-over-year declines. Class 8 orders totaled 230,643 units over the past 12 months.
Orders remained well below October’s 10-year average of 31,198 units, as fleets continued to delay replacement and expansion plans amid weak freight demand, excess capacity, rising interest rates, volatile tariffs, uneven economic growth, regulatory uncertainty, and compressed margins. Both the professional and highway sectors saw monthly gains, but the highway market contributed most of the year-over-year decline, reflecting continued fleet caution through 2026.
“Early indicators of the 2026 demand cycle reinforce this cautious outlook,” commented Dan Muir, Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst, “Early indicators of the 2026 demand cycle reinforce this cautious outlook. Combined net orders for September and October are 32% below year-ago levels, highlighting continued weakness in freight fundamentals and limited profitability for carriers. The monthly rise in October likely reflects targeted replacement activity rather than renewed investment. For OEMs and suppliers, visibility remains limited, and demand trends are expected to remain uneven until Freight volumes and rates are improving At the same time, fleets are focusing on controlling costs and asset utilization rather than growth, delaying a meaningful recovery in equipment demand until economic and market conditions stabilize.
“For industry, new tariffs on heavy trucks that take effect this month will raise costs but are less severe and more targeted than expected. Late U.S.-Mexico-Canada carve-outs, offsets and tariffs create a measured policy that encourages reshoring of manufacturing and strengthens North American supply chains. Some production already appears to be shifting toward assembly in the U.S., although capacity expansion will take time. Overall, the framework aims to boost U.S. manufacturing and reduce dependence on Asia while leaving room for policy adjustments “In the future.”
Preliminary requests may be estimated and are subject to review when FTR releases final data mid-month as part of its North American Commercial Truck and Trailer Forecast Service.
category: Equipment, Featured, General Update, News, Vehicles
