U.S. Demand for Class 8 Trucks Plunges

Orders for big highway trucks in the U.S. plummeted 37% to only 16,000 units in March, and inventories of unsold rigs surged to an eight-year high, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The newspaper cites data from ACT Research showing dealer supplies of Class 8 trucks climbed to 67,000 units last month—enough to cover about six months of sales. Fleet operators who ordered more trucks last autumn say the growth in freight they expected hasn’t materialized.

Instead, analysts say, shipping volumes are declining in the U.S. Would-be buyers tell the Journal they aren’t likely to place new orders until their uncertainty about America’s economy lifts.