U.S. Class 8 Truck Sales Surge in June 2025
In June 2025, U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks exceeded 20,000 for the first time this year, reaching 20,392 units, as reported by Omdia (previously known as Wards Intelligence). This marks an 8.6% increase from May’s total of 18,778, which was the previous high point for the year. Compared to June 2024, this also signifies a 12.5% uptick, representing the first year-over-year growth in 2025. Sales for the year thus far are only 5.1% lower than the pace set in 2024, marking the smallest deficit of the year.
Anticipated Price Increases
Despite the encouraging sales data, caution is warranted. Traditionally, new models are released in August, and prices are projected to rise. A significant portion of the market activity noted in June appears to be a strategy to sidestep impending cost increases on equipment.
Decline in New Orders
While there was a surge in the acquisition of new trucks, there was a notable decline in orders for new units. According to the monthly State of the Industry report by ACT Research, Class 8 net orders were recorded at 9,463 for June, a 35% decrease from June 2024.
Impact of Tariffs
“Weak fundamentals, current unfavorable trade policies, and the uncertainty of fluctuating tariff rates continue to hamper decision-making,” noted Carter Vieth, an ACT research analyst. He highlighted that the for-hire market is particularly struggling, currently in its 13th quarter of a freight recession.
Tariffs on steel and aluminum at 50%—critical materials for new truck construction—are escalating costs. There are additional tariffs on products sourced from Canada and Mexico, locations where major truck manufacturers operate, posing further risks of increased truck prices.
Used Truck Market Growth
The used truck market also saw a rise in June, according to ACT Research. Sales of used Class 8 units increased by 5% compared to May and were 22% higher than in June 2024. Average prices rose by 10% over May and 16% from June 2024 levels. Higher inventories contributed to these sales, as buyers sought newer, less-used units. Notably, June typically benefits from favorable seasonal trends for used truck sales.
Trailer Orders Surge
Trailer orders experienced a significant increase in June, as reported by FTR Transportation Intelligence, with net orders hitting 13,827 units—more than double the May figure and a 157% rise compared to June 2024. Despite cancellations dropping from 39% in May to 17% in June, actual trailer production remains about 13% behind the pace of 2024 due to ongoing supply chain challenges.
Manufacturer Performance Overview
Freightliner led sales among manufacturers in June with 7,944 units sold, a 30.7% increase from May, making it its best month of the year thus far. Meanwhile, International, Kenworth, Peterbilt, and Volvo also reported various changes in sales levels, with some experiencing declines while others gained ground in the market share. Notably, Freightliner and Western Star stand out as being ahead of their 2024 sales pace.
