Class 8 News Updates

The federal excise tax landed on the statute books in 1917 and remains there, crimping sales of new trucks and inhibiting the industry’s ongoing push toward greater environmental progress.

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

Mack Trucks on March 2 unveiled a new Class 8 vocational tractor, the Keystone, in the latest phase of a lineup overhaul.

Mack’s overhaul of its vocational portfolio also saw the debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway of the Keystone Class 8 tractor, which will replace the Pinnacle model by the end of 2026.

Volvo Trucks North America recently began serial production of the latest iteration of its VNR tractor at the New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va. 

The Salt Lake City-based commercial truck dealer described the move as a significant milestone in its ongoing growth strategy and long-term strategic planning.

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.

Industrywide U.S. and Canada Class 8 truck retail sales totaled 233,000 units in 2025, Paccar said, and are expected to range from 230,000 to 270,000 trucks in 2026.

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.

The North American heavy-duty truck market remains under pressure with fleets delaying equipment purchases amid uncertainty, according to consulting firm McKinsey.