--- title: Class 8 Truck Orders Signal Lingering Uncertainty Despite Modest Rebound description: Class 8 truck orders rose 40% in May but remain 47% below last year, affected by tariff changes and economic uncertainty. Explore the impact on the market. image: https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/06-June/Class%208%20June%20%202025.png --- ![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/06-June/Class%208%20June%20%202025.png?width=1600&height=500&name=Class%208%20June%20%202025.png) class 8 trucks forecasting # Class 8 Truck Orders Signal Lingering Uncertainty Despite Modest Rebound ![Dan Moyer, Sr. Analyst, Commerical Vehicles](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/FTR%20Headshots%20and%20Bios/Headshots/Cropped/Dan%20Moyer%20cropped.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=Dan%20Moyer%20cropped.jpg) Dan Moyer, Sr. Analyst, Commerical Vehicles June 4, 2025 Class 8 Truck Orders Signal Lingering Uncertainty Despite Modest Rebound 2:27 ### **Preliminary Class 8 net orders rose 40% in May—but still remain 47% below last year’s levels** ![semitruck on the highway-2](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/semitruck%20on%20the%20highway-2.jpeg?width=340&height=194&name=semitruck%20on%20the%20highway-2.jpeg)North American Class 8 preliminary net orders showed signs of life in May, increasing 40% month-over-month. However, the 12,000-unit total remains well below historical norms—47% lower than May 2024 and the weakest May showing since 2020. Through May, orders for the past 12 months stand at 260,355 units. ### Key Takeaways: - **Month-over-month improvement**: Orders up 40% from April’s unusually low level. - **Year-over-year decline**: Down 47% from May 2024; well below the seven-year May average of 18,319 units. - **Cumulative weakness**: Net orders are down 32% year-to-date, with retail sales down 11% through April. ### The Role of Tariffs and Regulatory Uncertainty This slight uptick may reflect short-term relief from recently adjusted tariffs—particularly the steep rollback on Chinese imports, where duties were reduced from 145% to 30%. However, broader instability remains: - **Tariff-related disruptions**: Ongoing legal challenges and retaliatory actions from key trading partners like China continue to cloud purchasing confidence. - **Potential new tariffs**: Section 232 tariffs under discussion could directly affect truck components and final assemblies. - **Upcoming EPA 2027 NOx standards**: Environmental regulations on the horizon are adding a long-term layer of complexity to equipment investment decisions. > ![Dan Moyer cropped](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/FTR%20Headshots%20and%20Bios/Headshots/Cropped/Dan%20Moyer%20cropped.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Dan%20Moyer%20cropped.jpg)“Tariff volatility and uncertainty over the economy and the truck freight market continue to disrupt the North American Class 8 truck and tractor market,” noted Dan Moyer, FTR Senior Analyst, Commercial Vehicles. ### Industry Outlook: Delayed Decisions, Heightened Caution Fleet buyers appear to be in a holding pattern. With cost variables still unsettled—from tariffs to regulations—many are pushing major capital decisions further down the road. The result? A cautious market where even momentary rebounds are tempered by broader macroeconomic and geopolitical risks. --- 🔍 For more insight, visit the [FTR Class 8 Truck Orders Chart](https://www.ftrintel.com/class-8-truck-orders) 🎤 Don’t miss deeper analysis at the [FTR Transportation Conference, Sept. 8–11](https://www.ftrconference.com/) --- 📝 *Want to stay ahead of the curve? 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