ACT Research Co., LLC

05/30/2026

Used Classes 3-8 Update 🔍
Same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales faltered a bit but do not give cause for concern.

“The 3.3% m/m decline was directionally consistent with, but not quite as strong as, the expected 11% seasonal drop. April is the sixth strongest sales month of the year, running 2% below average,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. He continued, “The auction and wholesale markets were mixed in April. Auction volumes sank 52% m/m, as is normally the case for the first month of the quarter. Wholesale dealer activity edged 6.1% higher m/m. Combined, April’s total market same dealer sales volumes were 23% lower m/m.”

“The Class 8 average retail sale price improved 4.2% m/m in April, rising to $59,122. Longer term, prices were 1.9% higher y/y,” Tam explained.

05/29/2026

May For-Hire Trucking Index Update 🔍

The Supply-Demand Balance tightened further in April to 66.9 from 60.5 (SA) in March, on a strong volume improvement, even as capacity turned from net contraction to slight expansion.

Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research, concluded, “While this seems inconsistent with a supply-driven cycle, improving volumes at the quality medium and large fleets in our survey sample are more likely the result of reduced industry capacity than goods demand trends. The economy is likely to remain uneven, and effects on inflation and interest rates from the war in Iran curtail the demand outlook, but lower tariffs partly offset these effects. And capacity continues to exit the market, even with growing prebuy demand ahead of EPA’27, largely as new FMCSA rules remove drivers.”

Read more from the latest For-Hire Trucking Index here: https://hubs.la/Q04j5dgf0

05/29/2026

[May State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks Update] - Used Truck Sales Declined While Prices Improved in April

Same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales faltered a bit but do not give cause for concern.

“The 3.3% m/m decline was directionally consistent with, but not quite as strong as, the expected 11% seasonal drop. April is the sixth strongest sales month of the year, running 2% below average,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. He continued, “The auction and wholesale markets were mixed in April. Auction volumes sank 52% m/m, as is normally the case for the first month of the quarter. Wholesale dealer activity edged 6.1% higher m/m. Combined, April’s total market same dealer sales volumes were 23% lower m/m.”

Read more from the update here: https://hubs.la/Q04jdTc10

05/28/2026

NA Classes 5-8 Update🔍
Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 24,675 units in April, down 24% m/m.

“April signifies the beginning of lower order seasonality until 2027 orderboards open in September,” according to Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research. “Due to last April’s ‘Liberation Day’ impacting orders, y/y comparisons this month are arguably uninformative, with m/m comparisons the better metric this month. Tractor orders totaled 16,807 units, down 21% m/m on seasonality. The surge in orders the past six months boils down to improved spot and contract rates and regulatory clarity. Vocational Class 8 orders totaled 7,868 units, down 29% m/m, but given seasonality and last month’s historically strong order month, the pull back from March levels is unsurprising.”

Regarding medium duty, Vieth added, “Total Classes 5-7 orders rose 29% y/y to 16,801 units (17.5k SA), partially on easy comps, but perhaps also reflecting continued consumer resilience despite the war, as well as some regulatory-driven dealer inventory stocking.”

05/28/2026

[Used Truck Sales Summary with ACT Research & The National Star Route Mail Contractors Association] - Gain a better understanding of the used truck market, especially as it relates to changes in near-term performance.

Our State of the Industry: U.S. Used Trucks Classes 3-8 report and database covers an estimated 40% of the used truck market. With original equipment manufacturer (OEM) remarketers, various-sized dealerships, fleets, leasing, financing, and independent dealerships reporting transaction-level data monthly, this report, combined with our other work, provides insight into the total capacity of the market.

Access the latest Used Truck Sales Summary (pg. 22) in the May Star Carrier publication here:

The Official Magazine of the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association

05/28/2026

[May For-Hire Trucking Index Update] - Improving Fleet Volumes are Likely the Result of Reduced Industry Capacity

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated the supply and demand balance tightened further in April, as freight volumes remained elevated and capacity turned to slight expansion.

The Volume Index rose 6.0 points to 66.9 seasonally adjusted (SA) in April, a new cycle high.

Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research, commented, “In four of the past five months, the Volume Index has been above 60, a level not reached since December 2021. As emphasized by the accelerating decline in the Driver Availability Index and the more chronic decline in the Capacity Index, this is largely a supply-driven recovery. Lower tariffs may be helping, but despite the May 7 ruling that the latest 10% §122 tariffs are unlawful, shippers may still delay restocking lean inventories until after the July 24 expiration to avoid the legal hassle. Even as the outlook for goods demand worsens on spiking fuel prices, for-hire demand is supported by reduced supply.”

Read more from the latest For-Hire Trucking Index here: https://hubs.la/Q04j5sZ_0

05/27/2026

[May State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Update] - April Class 8 Orders Totaled 25k Units

Final North American Class 8 net orders totaled 24,675 units in April, down 24% m/m, as published in ACT Research’s latest State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 report.

Read more from the update here: https://hubs.la/Q04hSP940

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful holiday as we reflect with gratitude.🇺🇸

05/22/2026

U.S. Trailer Update🔍
Four months into 2026 and the US trailer industry remains mired in the same challenging environment in which it operated throughout 2025.

“Counter to cyclical expectations, net order intake in April increased from March, albeit by just 3%, logging 19.4k orders placed this month. Compared to April 2025, net orders vaulted nearly 127% over the subdued intake of 8.6k last year. Seasonally adjusted, trailer orders were 26.8k units compared to an 18.8k SA rate in March, up almost 43% m/m,” said Jennifer McNealy, Director–CV Market Research & Publications at ACT Research. “April’s cancellation rate of 1.4%, as a percentage of backlog, remained in ‘elevated’ territory, but was an improvement from the 2.3% rate recorded in March. Like last month, high cancellations were reported in most segments, meaning the situation was broad-based.”

“Net orders have outpaced build for three of the four months in 2026. In April, nearly 2.3k more trailers were ordered than built, growing the backlog by more than 3% m/m,” McNealy continued. “However, this was not enough to pump much lifeblood into the anemic backlogs. YTD, backlogs contracted more than 13% compared to the first trimester of 2025.”

05/22/2026

[May Freight Forecast Update] - A Supply-Driven Freight Cycle

A supply-driven freight cycle doesn’t imply strong volumes, and this time is no different. The current 30% y/y increase in truckload spot rates, net fuel, coming out of Roadcheck, is driven primarily by tighter capacity.

“Improving survey data, including a jump in the ACT For-Hire Volume Index, suggest our friends at medium and large dry van and re**er fleets are beginning to see significantly stronger demand, even as the broader market does not,” said Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst. “The source of this early demand increase is primarily capacity reduction, which has accelerated this year due to an incipient driver shortage.”

Read more from the update here:

ACT Research’s freight forecast examines demand trends, capacity conditions, and rate dynamics shaping the U.S. transportation market outlook.