Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 25,800 units in January, on still-healthy tractor orders and strong vocational demand, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.

“Tractor orders totaled 18,400 units, down 11% year over year. It remains to be seen whether the decrease in orders this month will continue or was just a reversion after November and December highs. One month does not make a trend,” Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research, said. “Vocational truck orders rose 14% year over year, totaling 7,400 units in the seasonally weakest time of year for orders. With EPA’27 on the horizon, well supported end market, longer asset life cycles, and ~$2 trillion in stimulus continuing to be deployed, vocational truck buyers have both ability and willingness to get a head start on refreshing their fleet. Though, it’s worth nothing, the new administration has added greater uncertainty regarding the fate of EPA’27 and the remaining, unspent stimulus monies. Total Classes 5-7 orders decreased 26% year over year to 14.7k units. Medium duty orders have slowed in the past four months, as bloated inventories weigh on new orders.”