May Truck Orders Boom but Production is Constrained
Class 8 truck orders saw another bump in May but bottlenecks in the supply chain have kept production numbers constrained.
Class 8 and medium-duty Class 5-7 truck orders were both up slightly in the month of May, but production levels continue to lag behind demand.
Class 8 truck orders saw another bump in May but bottlenecks in the supply chain have kept production numbers constrained, according to ACT Research.
ACT tracked May Class 8 truck orders at 35,608 units, a number that is up 125% over last year in the same month. But with production lagging behind truck orders, the backlog of orders is up to 219,600 units, just below the all-time peak experienced in March 2006.
“Class 8 production remained constrained in May due to parts-specific production constraints,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT. “We have heard anecdotes that there are thousands of red-tagged (off-the-assembly-line but incomplete) units waiting to be finished.”
Medium-duty Class 5-7 truck orders were only up by a few hundred units over April and is being driven primarily by the heavier-duty end of the market.
“Seasonally adjusted, orders were at a four-month high of 25,100 units,” said Vieth. “The heavier end of the medium duty market continues to outperform the lighter end, with Class 5 orders in May improving 3% year-to-date and the Classes 6-7 May orders bringing that segment’s ytd rise to 33%.”
Related: CFI Accelerates Fleet Modernization Plan By Upping Order for Kenworth T680s
More Equipment
DTNA Plans New U.S. Truck Plant as Manufacturing Footprint Shifts
Daimler Truck North America is evaluating sites for a new assembly plant expected to open in 2029 while winding down operations at its longtime Portland manufacturing facility.
Read More →
Great Dane Flatbed Trailer Offers Light Weight and Strength
Freedom Ultra is designed for a wide range of open-deck applications, including building materials, lumber, machinery, steel products, industrial freight, and coil hauling.
Read More →
What It's Like Inside this Custom 2025 Peterbilt 589?
Take a driver's-eye tour of this customized 2025 Peterbilt 589 in this video, as longtime driver Ingrid Brown explains its features, compares it to previous models, and shares plenty of personality along the way.
Read More →
Drivers Put Western Star Trucks to the Test at Star Nation Experience
Watch to get an inside look at the Western Star trucks, technology, and community behind the Star Nation Experience 2026!
Read More →
Atlas Expands Kodiak Driverless Truck Fleet in Permian Basin
Atlas Energy Solutions is expanding autonomous frac sand hauling in the Permian Basin with a second load-out location and plans for 100 driverless trucks by mid-2027.
Read More →
Putting Mack’s Command Steer to the Test
A test drive of Mack’s Command Steer active steering system evaluates how it can make truck driving easier and less tiring.
Read More →
Mack, Volvo Expand DEF Derate Software Updates
The updated software gives Mack and Volvo truck owners more time to address DEF-related issues before the engine derates or the vehicle goes into reduced-speed inducement, following new EPA guidance.
Read More →
Rush, MCT Team Up to Grow Refrigeration Service Network
The joint venture will operate MCT's network of Carrier Transicold dealerships and mobile service locations, with the companies promising greater service capacity and uptime for refrigerated fleets.
Read More →
Cummins Adjusts 2027 Engine Rollout After EPA Proposal
The engine maker will gradually introduce its new Model Year 2027 diesel engines while continuing to offer current models during the transition, citing the EPA's proposed emissions rule changes.
Read More →
Aurora Rolls Out Next Generation of Driverless Trucks for Commercial Freight
Aurora's latest autonomous trucks it's rolling out with International feature lower-cost hardware designed for a million miles as the company expands commercial driverless freight operations across the U.S. Sun Belt.
Read More →