en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to data recently released by FTR and ACT Research, net orders for North American preliminary Class 8 trucks in April 2026 continued to show very strong annual growth. FTR reported net orders of 25,500 units in April, a 199% surge year-over-year, despite a 34% decline from March; ACT Research reported net orders of 24,800 units, a 201% jump year-over-year.
FTR explained that the month-over-month decline in April is a typical seasonal correction following the exceptionally strong performance in March, not a signal of weakening demand, and April marked the third consecutive month with annual growth exceeding 140%. Cumulative orders over the past 12 months reached 298,105 units, with total 2026 orders up 110% year-over-year, driving a 23% increase in total orders for the quarter.
Demand growth was primarily driven by recovering freight rates, tight capacity, improved equipment utilization, and fleets gradually initiating replacement cycles. Some financially stronger carriers moderately expanded their fleet sizes, while companies rushing to secure remaining production slots for the year ahead of the EPA 2027 regulations taking effect further boosted booking volumes. However, relatively weak retail truck sales and uneven profitability among carriers indicate that the market recovery is not balanced.
Dan Moyer, Senior Commercial Vehicle Analyst at FTR, noted that the sharp changes in demand in recent months pose several risks. On one hand, fleets might place orders early or in excess due to a "fear of missing out" mentality, increasing the risk of future order cancellations, though the firm believes this risk remains limited as long as the freight recovery trend does not reverse. On the other hand, a more prominent risk lies on the production execution side, where OEMs and suppliers need to avoid shortfalls in labor, supply chain, quality, or inventory while rapidly ramping up from a low base in the first quarter. Additionally, the direction of regulatory policy, the sustainability of the freight recovery, rising financing costs, and geopolitical volatility that could push up fuel prices also constitute uncertainties.
Looking ahead, FTR expects the 2026 order schedule to fill up earlier than in the past, with some manufacturers' second-quarter production slots already saturated and a significant portion of second-half production already booked. ACT Research analyst Carter Vieth noted that as April enters the traditional off-season before the 2027 order book opens, a month-over-month decline in orders is not surprising, with seasonally adjusted Class 8 truck orders falling 24% from the previous month.
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