Class 8 truck net orders increased 12% month over month to 33,500, a 7% year-over-year decrease, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence.

Orders were above seasonal expectations for November, indicating momentum as fleets invest in new equipment at higher-than-expected replacement demand levels so far this year. It’s too soon to tell whether fleets accelerated purchases ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s announced plan for 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. More than 40% of Class 8 trucks built for the U.S. market are produced in Mexico, FTR noted.

“The announcement presents challenges for the commercial vehicle industry already grappling with preparations for 2027 U.S. EPA NOx regulations, further straining supply chains and costs,” FTR Senior Analyst of Commercial Vehicles Dan Moyer said in a statement. “While the late-November announcement likely had minimal impact on orders for the month, orders over the next month or so could see a boost as fleets aim to preempt potential tariffs.”

Class 8 trailer net orders tanked in October by 55% compared to a year ago, representing the lowest level for the month since FTR began tracking them over a decade ago, the group said.

The 15,970 units ordered reflected a 34% month-over-month increase, reflecting typical seasonal trends. But trailer orders are down by more than a third year to date — well below expectations — as they struggle to build momentum despite the opening of 2025 order boards.

“The steep decline in trailer demand is largely due to fleets prioritizing investments in new power units over trailers, likely influenced by reduced profitability or shifts in trade cycles,” Don Moyer, FTR senior analyst for commercial vehicles, said in a statement. “If 2025 trailer orders fail to rebound soon, some OEMs may need to extend or deepen production cuts into next year.”

Class 8 net orders dropped 14% from the prior month to 28,300 units — a 2% year-over-year increase — in October, FTR reported.

Orders remain short of seasonal expectations, as the industry has averaged nearly 34,000 orders in October over the past seven years. The monthly total is healthy but indicates some fleets are being cautious as they order new trucks for next year.

“With inventory levels remaining close to record highs, we also foresee continued downward pressure on production rates through the remainder of 2024,” said Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst, commercial vehicles.

Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders reached 30,000 units in September, up from 13,400 units in August, as order boards opened for next year, FTR reported.

Orders were down 4% year over year, but they were generally in line with seasonal expectations.

“Given the current stagnation in the truck freight market from a volume and rate perspective, this is a very balanced order number and suggests an initial, healthy level of demand for new trucks in 2025,” FTR said.

Net trailer orders were down 30% year over year to 6,661 units in August, according to FTR data. But last month’s orders were up 17% from July.

In a monthly report, FTR noted that truck freight fundamentals are stagnant, with total trailer build 30% lower than the average August for the past five years.

“Higher-than-ideal trailer inventories at dealers across most segments, reduced trailer capital expenditures at fleets, and declining backlogs likely will exert downward pressure on build rates for the rest of 2024,” FTR Senior Analyst of Commercial Vehicles Dan Moyer said in the report.

Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders dropped to 12,400 units in July, from 13,100 units in June, according to a report from FTR. That represents a 7% decrease from a year ago.

FTR said orders fell somewhat below seasonal expectations. “The decline is unsurprising given the strong order performance in the first five months of the year and the typically weak seasonal order period,” the firm said.

Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders dropped to 13,100 units in June, down from 18,900 units in May, according to a report from FTR. That was slightly down from 13,800 units a year ago.

FTR said the decline fell within seasonal expectation. “The y/y decrease is the first this year, but it is relatively insignificant because it is modest and because of the strong order performance over the previous five months,” the firm said.

Trailer orders fell both sequentially and year-over-year in May. But Class 8 net truck orders increased to 18,900 units in May, up from 14,000 in April and 13,600 year over year, according to a report from FTR.

"Along with the month-over-month increase, the fact that orders were up significantly from the May 2023 level indicates that the market remains on a solid footing despite near-term challenges," FTR's Dan Moyer, a senior analyst of commercial vehicles, said, noting that vocational markets stood out compared to on-highway equipment.

Class 8 truck orders fell to 14,000 from 18,200 the prior month in April but increased from last year’s low, 12,050, in April 2023, per FTR.

Net trailer orders increased from 11,947 units in March to 13,016 units in April, according to FTR data. That was a 9% month-over-month increase and 45% increase year over year.

"With the truck freight market facing challenges, solid growth in April for both total van and major vocational trailer orders offers a few green shoots of optimism," Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst of commercial vehicles, said in a monthly report.

Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders decreased 4% year over year in March to 18,200, according to a report from FTR. That's significantly down from February's total of 25,700.

"Order levels in March were below the historical average but remained in line with seasonal trends," FTR Chairman of the Board Eric Starks said in the report.

Preliminary Class 8 truck net orders increased 11% year over year in February, rising to 25,700 units last month, according to a report from FTR.

The figure is above seasonal expectations, but consistent with recent demand trends, according to the intelligence firm. Build slots continue to be filled, and recent demand trends have stabilized at a level 10,000 units lower than November 2023's peak — staving off concerns of a "rapid easing of demand in 2024."

"Despite the weakness in the freight markets that has persisted for more than a year, fleets continue to be willing to order new equipment," Eric Starks, chairman of the board at FTR, said in the report. "Order levels were above the historical average and above seasonal trends, but our expectations for replacement output by the end of this year remain unchanged.

Net trailer orders plummeted 45% year over year to 13,342 units in January, according to FTR data.

With a backlog-to-build ratio remaining at 7.1 months, signs are pointing toward normalization and stability, FTR Chairman Eric Starks said in a monthly report.