Big Rigs · Nationwide · November 15, 2026

New Truck Orders Plunge in October, Down 45% by One Count and 36% by Another, as Fleets Wait on 2027 Rules

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Orders for new Class 8 trucks, the heaviest big rigs that pull most long-haul freight, dropped sharply in October by two industry counts, as fleets wait to learn what 2027 engine rules will cost.

Two counts, same story

ACT Research's preliminary data showed North American Class 8 orders fell 45% from a year earlier to 13,500 units, Transport Topics reports. FTR Transportation Intelligence counted 15,600 preliminary net orders, down 36% from a year earlier and 24% from September.

The two research groups count orders separately, so their figures differ.

Why fleets are waiting

"It's not a lack of desire for new equipment holding fleets back but rather the inability to make informed investment decisions," said Carter Vieth, a research analyst at ACT. He said the lack of clarity around the Environmental Protection Agency's 2027 rules and their costs has left manufacturers and fleets unable to plan for next year.

The EPA has proposed changes to its 2027 heavy-duty engine rule that would ease warranty requirements while leaving the underlying emissions standards in place, Transport Topics reported.

Dan Moyer, senior analyst at FTR, said fleets may be shifting spending toward trailers in the near term and pointed to fuel, insurance, labor and margin pressure. He said some purchases appear to have been deferred rather than canceled.

Volvo Trucks North America data showed 12,614 Class 8 orders in the U.S. and Canada in October, the weakest month since July 2025, according to the report.

Follow-up

Big Rig Daily first reported FTR's October figure on Nov. 5 in Class 8 truck orders drop 36% in October. The ACT count adds a second, steeper measure of the slowdown.

A question for readers

Is now the time to buy a new truck, or to keep the old one running until the 2027 rules are settled?

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