North American Class 8 preliminary net truck orders reached 26,600 units in May, up 4% month-over-month and ahead of analyst expectations, according to FTR Intelligence. The result marked the fourth consecutive month of more than 120% year-over-year growth, with May orders running 56% above the 10-year average of 17,046 units for the month.
FTR senior commercial vehicles analyst Dan Moyer attributed the strong result to fleet replacement needs, firming freight rates, rising utilization, tightening capacity, and limited remaining 2026 build availability. Moderate EPA 2027 NOx pre-buy activity contributed to the order pace as well. Orders totaled 312,902 units over the trailing 12 months.
Year-to-date order intake for 2026 runs 112% higher than the same period in 2025, and the 2026 order season is up 28% compared to prior-year levels. That strength has improved backlog visibility for manufacturers, with remaining 2026 build slots likely to fill ahead of the typical August timeframe.
Moyer cautioned that softer retail sales and uneven carrier profitability indicate the recovery is not universal. Build execution, supplier readiness, labor availability, and delivery timing will become increasingly important as the year progresses. Risks including a freight demand slowdown, financing pressure, or unresolved geopolitical factors could prompt some fleets to defer orders placed to secure 2026 capacity.
Source: TheTrucker.com -- https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/business/ftr-class-8-orders-up-in-may