Class 8 Truck Sales Drop Year-Over-Year in May Despite Monthly Gains

U.S. Class 8 truck retail sales fell 8% year over year in May to 17,280 units from 18,778, according to Omdia Automotive data, though they rose 8.4% month over month from 15,941 in April. Year-to-date sales through May dropped 16% to 73,419 units compared to 87,447 in the same period last year. The data reflects persistent buyer hesitation despite improving freight and manufacturing fundamentals. Peterbilt sales dropped 15.9% to 2,611 trucks from 3,105 in May 2025. Kenworth sales fell 27.5% to 2,368 units from 3,267. Freightliner led the market with 6,617 units sold, a 8.9% increase from 6,076, capturing 38.3% of total sales. Western Star sales plunged 33.7% to 657 units from 991. Volvo Trucks sales declined 4.2% to 1,604 units from 1,675. Mack Trucks sales dropped 10.3% to 1,469 units from 1,637. International sales dipped 3.5% to 1,953 units from 2,024. ACT Research Vice President Steve Tam noted that while manufacturing activity and freight fundamentals are improving, buyers remain cautious due to inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, particularly the situation in Iran. He also highlighted that manufacturers have added roughly 6,000 to 6,500 units of inventory since the start of the year, a level he described as unsustainable. Tam emphasized that while the sequential increase in sales is a positive sign, demand has yet to materialize at levels needed to justify production growth. The ISM Manufacturing PMI expanded for the fifth consecutive month in May, reaching 54%, the highest since May 2022, signaling stronger industrial activity. However, industry leaders like Jonathan Randall of Mack Trucks and Magnus Koeck of Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) stressed that fleets are still grappling with weak profitability, elevated diesel prices, and subdued consumer spending, all of which continue to dampen Class 8 retail recovery. Despite some optimism about freight demand and prebuy activity, carriers remain cautious about committing to new purchases.