June Class 8 Truck Sales See First Growth of 2025

June marked the first month in 2025 that U.S. Class 8 truck retail sales saw a year-over-year increase, rising 12.5% to 20,392 units, according to Wards Intelligence. It also represented an 8.6% sequential increase over May.

Despite the gain, total year-to-date sales remain down 5% from 2024 levels.

“One of the themes that’s resonated throughout this cycle… is just the challenge the manufacturers have had in producing units,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “If you don’t build it, you can’t sell it.”

Tam added that while June’s increase is notable, it may reflect a push to move inventory ahead of expected layoffs and cutbacks, not a sign of lasting demand.

Manufacturers Mixed on Outlook

June’s surge was driven in part by available inventory and end-of-quarter momentum. Freightliner led the pack with 7,944 trucks sold, a 30.8% jump from last year. Western Star rose 36.7% to 1,136 units, and International climbed 22.3% to 2,110.

Mack Trucks President Jonathan Randall said the performance “underscores our customers’ confidence in their fleet operations” despite economic pressure.

Still, order activity remains weak. Volvo Trucks’ Magnus Koeck noted that recent order pace “is close to record-low volumes,” attributing the caution to economic uncertainty and tariff risks.

Analysts Predict Caution Ahead

While retail sales held up in June, ACT Research is forecasting a 10.5% decline in full-year Class 8 sales, totaling roughly 221,400 units. Factors include inflation, soft freight conditions, and tighter capital budgets among fleets.

“We are in conversations daily with our customers as we navigate this complex environment together,” said Koeck.

As the second half of the year progresses, both OEMs and analysts will be watching whether June was a short-lived recovery, or a pivot point.

Source: Transport Topics