Class 8 Orders Extend Rebound With 26,600 May Bookings
FTR says North American Class 8 net orders reached 26,600 in May, up 124% year over year and 56% above the 10-year May average, as replacement demand keeps the order board moving.
May orders stay well above last year
North American Class 8 net orders kept their rebound going in May, with FTR reporting 26,600 preliminary bookings. That was up 4% from April, up 124% from a year earlier, and 56% above the 10-year May average of 17,046 units.
Transport Topics reported a similar direction from ACT Research, whose preliminary count showed May orders up 103% year over year. The exact counts differ by tracker, but both point to a market that is still ordering far ahead of last year's weak comparison.
Vocational demand carried the month
FTR said vocational orders accounted for most of the modest sequential gain, while on-highway orders were relatively flat. That split matters for fleets reading the cycle: construction, utility, municipal, and specialized operations appear to be doing more of the near-term lifting than linehaul tractor demand.
Over the past 12 months, FTR put Class 8 orders at 312,902 units. Its May snapshot described the recovery as improving but still uneven, supported by tighter supply, replacement demand, regulatory cost concerns, and gradually better freight rates.
What it means for fleets
For fleet managers, the order rebound does not mean trucks are easy to buy or cheap to operate. It does suggest more fleets are willing to place equipment bets again, especially where older assets, warranty exposure, and possible 2027 emissions-cost timing are already forcing replacement conversations.
