FTR reports preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for December at 31,900 units

FTR reported that preliminary North American Class 8 net orders in December totaled 31,900 units, down 7% month-over-month (m/m) yet a notable 23% increase year-over-year (y/y). This figure slightly outperformed seasonal expectations, surpassing the seven-year December average of 29,716 net orders. Despite a sluggish truck freight environment, the 2025 order season (September through December 2024) has seen cumulative net orders up 6% y/y, signaling positive momentum as we enter the new year.

Full-year 2024 total Class 8 net orders were up 11% y/y, a performance slightly surpassing replacement demand levels at an average of 23,323 net orders per month. Class 8 orders for full-year 2024 totaled 279,872 units.

Dan Moyer, senior analyst, commercial vehicles, commented, “While OEMs experienced an overall month-over-month decline in order activity for December, most OEMs performed above seasonal expectations as net orders maintained relatively high levels for what is typically a softer order month. There also wasn’t any notable difference in vocational segment month-over-month order movement performance versus how on-highway performed this month.

“We continue to watch the ongoing discussions and developments related to President-elect Trump’s plans to impose immediate tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China as more than 40% of Class 8 trucks sold in the U.S. are built in Mexico. Tariffs could significantly disrupt supply chains and raise production costs, compounding disruptions already anticipated due to EPA 2027 NOx regulations. Fleets may adjust order and retail demand strategies in response.”

Preliminary orders may be estimated and are subject to revision when FTR releases final data mid-month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service.