Class 8 orders surge with biggest gain in seven months

North American Class 8 truck orders posted their largest year-over-year increase in seven consecutive months of growth, according to ACT Research. June orders skyrocketed 231% to 31,400 units, marking the biggest jump of 2026 so far and an 18% rise from May’s 26,576 units. Analysts attribute the surge to improving freight rates and carrier profitability, which are driving sustained demand for heavy-duty trucks. The preliminary data suggests either higher-than-expected industry builds into year-end or orders spilling into the first half of 2027. Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research, noted that the seven-month streak of strong Class 8 orders reflects a supply-led and demand-supported recovery. “Truckers only buy trucks when they make money,” Vieth said, highlighting the rapid improvement in carrier fortunes as freight rates continue to climb. The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed changes to the 2027 heavy-duty engine rule, announced on July 9, 2026, aim to ease warranty requirements that manufacturers had warned could raise costs and complicate the rollout of new diesel engines. The proposal keeps the underlying emissions standards intact while adjusting useful-life requirements and introducing nonconformance penalties for certain diesel engines that may not immediately meet the 2027 limits. Dan Moyer, senior analyst of commercial vehicles at FTR Transportation Intelligence, emphasized the stakes of the EPA’s NOx revisions, stating that the possibility of orders spilling into Q1 2027 raises questions about enforcement posture in early 2027. FTR’s data showed Class 8 preliminary net orders jumped 241% year over year to 30,500 units in June, with a sequential increase of 16% and a 68% rise above the 10-year average for the month. However, the report notes that recent year-over-year increases are against weak comparisons. Volvo Trucks North America mirrored the trend, with orders up 18.5% sequentially to 29,148 units across the U.S. and Canada. Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy, marketing, and brand management at VTNA, called the high order numbers surprising given that most OEMs are reportedly sold out for the year, suggesting some manufacturers may have reopened order books for 2027. Koeck added that carriers are growing more optimistic as freight rates improve, though freight volumes still need to rise further for fleets to see meaningful profitability gains. Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America, echoed the industrywide strength, attributing it to a pre-buy ahead of the 2027 EPA regulations, a solid vocational market, and early signs of recovery in the highway segment. “Order activity in June reflects the strength we’re seeing industrywide,” Randall said. “We’re encouraged by what this signals for the broader freight cycle heading into next year.” The proposed EPA rule changes and ongoing trade policy uncertainty under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remain key factors to watch, as they could influence future trucking costs and market dynamics.