August Class 8 order counts differ: FTR says 18,200, ACT says 16,800

FTR Transportation Intelligence and ACT Research gave different preliminary North American Class 8 net order totals for August. FTR reported 18,200 units, up 42 per cent year over year. ACT reported 16,800 units, up 31 per cent year over year, and 19,600 units seasonally adjusted, Aftermarket News reported. The American Journal of Transportation carried FTR’s release on September 3 and said preliminary orders may be revised mid-month.

FTR said most surcharge-free model-year 2026 engine build slots, if not all, are now likely full, suggesting the pre-buy, the rush to order engines before new rules take effect, is largely over. The rules are the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed 2027 NOx limits, which are not final. ACT said orders keep running into oversubscribed 2026 backlogs, Aftermarket News reported.

FTR said the penalty could add roughly US$6,000 to US$7,000 per engine above the proposed NOx limit, likely passed through to fleets, against an estimated US$8,000 to US$12,000 upcharge for a fully compliant 2027 engine. Dan Moyer, FTR’s senior analyst for commercial vehicles, said the EPA’s July proposal could still change. The proposal is a United States one.