FTR News Updates

Mexican production of heavy-duty trucks slowed in September compared with August but again outstripped manufacturing in the year-ago period by a wide margin.

After a strong start to the year, North American Class 8 truck orders slowed further in September on uncertainty over upcoming emissions regulations.

Motor carriers didn’t follow normal replacement schedules during the prolonged freight rate recession. That trend is starting to reverse.

North American Class 8 truck orders slowed sequentially in August, in line with seasonal norms as build slots began filling. But they jumped on an annual basis.

Class 8 truck orders rose sharply on a year-over-year basis in July, but full 2026 production backlogs and uncertainty over EPA rules cloud the outlook.

North American Class 8 truck orders hit their largest year-over-year increase in seven months of consecutive gains.

The ACT Research report expected a sequential drop in net orders, with May traditionally marking the second-weakest order month of the annual cycle.

Costs for carriers continue to increase, and spot rates across all segments of the North American freight market jumped in the first five months of 2026.

ACT Research preliminary data showed orders increased 103% year over year, while FTR Transportation Intelligence reported an even larger 124% gain.

Preliminary net data from ACT Research showed orders rose 126% year over year to 19,400 units, though the report noted that prior-year trailer orders were weak.