ACT Research News Updates

“People are still holding on to their money,” said Charles Smith, regional business development and marketing manager at Mission Financial Services.

ACT Research preliminary net data for January showed orders rose 9% year over year to 23,000 units while also marking a sequential decline of 8% compared with December.

The typical year‑end push inflates December totals, making a sharp January drop unsurprising, though ACT Research noted this year’s decline was larger than seasonal norms.

ACT Research preliminary data showed orders increased 20% year over year to 30,800 units. But the data also showed orders fell 27.8% sequentially from 42,684 units.

Used Class 8 truck sales in December regained positive momentum compared with the prior year after a slight dip ended five consecutive months of year-over-year gains.

U.S. Class 8 retail truck sales capped off what has been a generally down year with a sequential boost in December, according to data from Omdia Automotive.

Classes 4-7 retail truck sales for the month decreased 15.5% to 19,082 units from 22,586 a year earlier. Medium-duty sales haven’t trended ahead of the prior year since January 2025.

Class 8 truck orders soared sequentially in December, a shift that experts attributed more to buyer trepidation over new emissions technologies than enthusiasm with business conditions.

U.S. trailer orders fell 37% below prior-year results in November, with freight market pressures continuing to weigh on activity, ACT Research reported. 

North American Class 8 truck orders fell from the prior year and sequentially in November despite the month usually being the third strongest of the year.