Preliminary December Class 8 truck net orders again saw mixed results, according to data recently respectively issued FTR and ACT Research.
FTR reported that preliminary December Class 8 net orders, at 31,900 units, were off 7% compared to November and up 23% annually, with the firm noting that this tally slightly outperformed seasonal expectations, while also topping the seven-year December average, at 29,716 net orders. And it added that amid what it called a sluggish truck freight environment, the 2025 order season, between September and December 2024, saw cumulative net orders rise 6% annually, marking positive momentum early into 2025.
For calendar year 2024, FTR reported that total Class 8 net orders increased 11% annually, narrowly ahead of replacement demand levels at an average of 23.323 net orders per month, with calendar year Class 8 orders totaling 279,282 units.
“While OEMs experienced an overall month-over-month decline in order activity for December, most OEMs performed above seasonal expectations as net orders maintained relatively high levels for what is typically a softer order month,” said Dan Moyer, FTR senior analyst, commercial vehicles There also wasn’t any notable difference in vocational segment month-over-month order movement performance versus how on-highway performed this month. We continue to watch the ongoing discussions and developments related to President-elect Trump’s plans to impose immediate tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China as more than 40% of Class 8 trucks sold in the U.S. are built in Mexico. Tariffs could significantly disrupt supply chains and raise production costs, compounding disruptions already anticipated due to EPA 2027 NOx regulations. Fleets may adjust order and retail demand strategies in response.”
ACT data: ACT reported that December preliminary Class 8 net orders came in at 36,500 units, falling 2.1% sequentially and rising 39% annually.
“Strength continues to be the applicable descriptor of Class 8 order activity as the industry looks to 2025. In December, Class 8 orders were in line, slipping 2.1% m/m to 36,500 units,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “While down from November, orders were up nearly 39% compared to last December’s performance. With the largest seasonal factor of the year, seasonal adjustment is always unkind in December. On a seasonally adjusted basis, Class 8 orders fell 15% from November to 29,700 units, and a 356k SAAR.”
