Truck sales strong in March but impact of tariff wars evident

May 02, 2025 at 02:45 PM CST
The month of March is usually a strong one for U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks, and it often sets the tone for the upcoming summer. Because the month closes the year’s first quarter, carriers often adjust purchase investments to impact quarterly results and set up their fleets for the next quarter. True to form in 2025, U.S sales of new Class 8 trucks rose significantly in March — up by 18.8% from February sales figures. According to data received from Wards Intelligence, manufacturers reported sales of 18,682 in March. While that number represents a decline of 5% from March 2024 sales, it was still stronger than expected in light of announced tariffs and continued depressed freight rates.

May 02, 2025 at 02:45 PM CST

The month of March is usually a strong one for U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks, and it often sets the tone for the upcoming summer. Because the month closes the year’s first quarter, carriers often adjust purchase investments to impact quarterly results and set up their fleets for the next quarter.

True to form in 2025, U.S sales of new Class 8 trucks rose significantly in March — up by 18.8% from February sales figures. According to data received from Wards Intelligence, manufacturers reported sales of 18,682 in March.

While that number represents a decline of 5% from March 2024 sales, it was still stronger than expected in light of announced tariffs and continued depressed freight rates.