Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 9,463 units in June, down 35% year over year, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.
“Weak fundamentals, current regressive trade policy, and uncertainty over the every-changing carousel of new tariff rates/deadlines impedes decision making,” according to Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “The pain is especially pronounced in the for-hire market, as we’ve now entered the 13th quarter of freight recession in that market segment.
“Fleets are cash strapped, and with tariffs raising the cost of equipment and impacting goods demand, fleets either can’t afford new equipment or have little need for it. Consequently, tractor orders were down 42% year over year. Vocational orders were down 23% year over year, as equipment price increases, regulatory uncertainty, and softness in housing and private construction have greatly reduced demand for vocational equipment."
Regarding medium duty, Vieth said, “Total Classes 5-7 orders fell 40% year over year to 12,387 units. MD orders have slowed across the past six months, as current bloated inventories and a weaker economic outlook weigh on new orders.”
CVSA awards 2 $5,000 scholarships
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Monday, July 21, announced that high school graduates Madyson Daniels and Trey Johnson will each receive $5,000 toward their college education as the recipients of the alliance’s college scholarship awards.
The scholarships were awarded to Daniels and Johnson in recognition of their exceptional academic achievements, dedication to community service, focused plans for their futures and demonstrated leadership.
Scholarship award recipients must be the legal dependent of a current CVSA member. Daniels is the daughter of Robert “Joey” Daniels with the California Highway Patrol. She will attend Grand Canyon University and plans to major in communication sciences and disorders (speech pathology). Johnson is the son of Brady Johnson with the Louisiana State Police. He plans to major in biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“The CVSA College Scholarship Award Program is the alliance’s contribution to supporting and empowering the next generation,” said CVSA President Capt. John Hahn with the Colorado State Patrol. “CVSA believes that education is a powerful tool for transforming lives and we hope that our support can help our scholarship recipients achieve their academic and career goals, with access to the education they deserve.”
CVSA will begin accepting next year’s scholarship applications in February of 2026.
The CVSA College Scholarship Award Program is dedicated to Gary E. Curtis. While working for the Virginia State Police, Curtis was an active member of CVSA and a cornerstone in the development of the North American Standard Inspection Program. He served as CVSA’s director of technical services in 1992. His efforts and contributions helped form the solid base upon which CVSA now proudly stands. Curtis lost his life to cancer in December 1998.
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