North American fleets ordered 31,400 Class 8 trucks in June by ACT Research's preliminary count — a 231% jump from a year ago and an 18% gain over May. FTR's tally tells the same story: 30,500 units, up 241% year over year and 68% above the 10-year monthly average.
It is the biggest year-over-year gain in a seven-month streak of increases, and it lands on a market that is running out of room: demand has already outpaced available 2026 production slots, with analysts expecting the remaining slots to fill completely during July.
What's fueling the surge
Two forces are stacking on top of each other. Freight rates keep climbing — "freight rates continue to soar," as ACT Research's Carter Vieth put it — giving carriers the cash flow and confidence to refresh equipment. At the same time, fleets are pre-buying ahead of the 2027 EPA emissions regulations, locking in current-generation diesels before the rulebook changes.
“ Most OEMs are sold out for the year. ”
The market is shifting phases
With a 12-month rolling total of 334,160 units, the Class 8 market is moving from an order-driven phase into a capacity-allocation phase — it's no longer about whether fleets want trucks, but about who gets a build slot.
What it means on the ground
Buying new in 2026? Expect to fight for slots — some OEMs are already opening 2027 order books
Late-model used trucks are likely to hold value better as new supply tightens
The pre-buy wave suggests carriers expect 2027-compliant trucks to cost meaningfully more
Equipment moves fast — so should you
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