According to FTR Transportation Intelligence, preliminary North American Class 8 truck orders dropped sharply in April 2025 to just 7,400 units, marking the lowest monthly total since May 2020. Orders fell 54% month-over-month and year-over-year, significantly underperforming the seven-year April average of nearly 19,000 units 【source: FTR, May 2, 2025】.

The downturn is attributed to growing fleet hesitancy amid economic uncertainty, freight market softness, and escalating tariff pressures, which are discouraging new equipment investment. So far in 2025, Class 8 net orders are down 30% year-over-year, while retail sales are down 10% through March. Order cancellations and delayed purchases are compounding the slowdown.

Dan Moyer, FTR Senior Analyst, noted that “tariff-driven cost increases and regulatory concerns, including upcoming EPA 2027 NOx standards, are likely to further suppress demand in the near term.”

FTR will explore these trends further at its Commercial Vehicle Symposium on May 13 in Bloomfield Hills, MI. More info

View the latest Class 8 order chart: ftrintel.com/class-8-truck-orders