NTEA is a recognized leader in providing relevant and valuable industry statistics and interpretation of market data and trends affecting the work truck industry. The Association’s comprehensive compilation and interpretation of data and forecasts is updated monthly, offering an in-depth look into the commercial vehicle market.
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U.S./Mexico – SALES
U.S./Mexico commercial truck chassis sales increased +6.2% year-over-year (YoY) in August 2026, while year-to-date (YTD) sales remain down -2.6%. Complete vehicle results were positive for the month: Tractor sales increased +5.4% YoY, though they remain down -14.2% YTD, while Commercial Van sales rose +9.8% and are up +6.0% YTD. The August gain therefore continued the recent improvement in monthly demand, but the cumulative market has not yet fully recovered to 2025 levels.
By cab type, three of the four incomplete chassis categories increased in August. Strip chassis sales rose +10.5% YoY, Cutaway increased +8.5%, and Conventional gained +6.0%, while Low Cab chassis declined -7.4%. The YTD picture remains more mixed: Strip chassis and Cutaway are up +4.6% and +4.9%, respectively, while Conventional remains down -4.5% and LCOE is down -14.3%. August was broadly positive, but the cumulative weakness in Conventional and LCOE continues to weigh on the market.
By GVWR, sales increased year-over-year across every class in August. Classes 2, 3, and 7 each rose about +8%, Class 5 increased +7.4%, Class 4 rose +6.1%, Class 8 gained +3.0%, and Class 6 was nearly flat at +0.9%. YTD results are less uniform: Classes 2, 3, and 5 are positive, while Classes 4, 6, 7, and 8 remain below 2025. The August gains were therefore broad-based, but the heavier classes still carry meaningful cumulative declines.
U.S./Mexico – SHIPMENTS
U.S./Mexico truck chassis shipments increased +21.5% YoY in August, lifting YTD shipments to +2.8%. Complete vehicle shipments were especially strong: Tractor shipments surged +62.1% for the month and are now up +16.0% YTD, while Commercial Van shipments increased +12.4% and are up +4.0% YTD. The shipment picture has strengthened materially faster than sales, particularly in tractors.
Shipment growth was broad across all four incomplete chassis configurations. Strip increased +59.7% YoY, LCOE rose +28.7%, Conventional gained +19.2%, and Cutaway increased +8.7%. YTD, Strip remains the strongest category at +28.2%, followed by LCOE at +17.0%; Conventional is nearly even with 2025 at -0.6%, while Cutaway remains slightly lower at -1.2%. August therefore added to a production-side recovery that is becoming less concentrated than earlier in the year.
By GVWR, every class posted a year-over-year shipment increase in August. Class 8 led at +51.8%, followed by Class 6 at +31.8% and Class 7 at +27.4%. Classes 4 and 5 rose +10.2% and +13.7%, while Classes 2 and 3 increased about +9%. YTD, Classes 2, 6, 7, and 8 are above 2025, with Class 2 strongest at +14.7%; Classes 3, 4, and 5 remain modestly negative. The latest month shows broad production strength extending into the heavier classes.
Canada – SALES
Canadian commercial truck chassis sales increased +7.4% YoY in August, bringing YTD sales to +16.3%. Commercial Van sales remained a major source of strength, rising +21.8% for the month and +25.9% YTD. Tractor sales increased +5.3% in August but remain down -8.8% YTD, so the monthly improvement has not yet erased the cumulative weakness in that segment.
Canada’s cab-type results were sharply mixed. Conventional sales increased +19.7% YoY and Cutaway rose +8.1%, while Strip chassis declined -59.9% and LCOE fell -27.0%. YTD, however, Strip chassis remains up +55.9%, Conventional is up +17.3%, and Cutaway is up +9.9%, while LCOE is down -2.0%. By class, Class 3 led August growth at +55.1%, followed by Class 6 at +31.4%; Class 7 declined -9.9% and Class 5 was essentially flat. Most Canadian classes remain positive YTD, although Classes 5 and 8 are slightly below 2025.
Canada – SHIPMENTS
Canadian truck chassis shipments increased +7.7% YoY in August and are up +6.7% YTD. Complete vehicle shipments were much stronger in the latest month: Tractor shipments rose +60.7% YoY, although they remain down -27.5% YTD, while Commercial Van shipments increased +19.7% and are up +10.4% YTD. The contrast between strong August tractor shipments and the negative YTD comparison points to a recent rebound from a weak earlier-year base.
By cab type, Canadian shipment growth was led by LCOE at +97.0% YoY and Strip chassis at +83.1%. Cutaway increased +10.1%, while Conventional declined -4.5%. YTD results remain positive across all four configurations, ranging from +2.3% for Conventional to +50.5% for Strip chassis. By GVWR, Class 8 shipments increased +42.3% and Class 5 rose +28.8%, while Class 7 declined -28.0% and Class 3 fell -14.2%. Despite those monthly declines, most classes remain above 2025 YTD, with Class 7 the notable exception at -7.9%.
Summary Insights
August reinforced a widening difference between sales and shipments. U.S./Mexico sales improved +6.2% YoY but remain slightly below 2025 YTD, while shipments accelerated +21.5% and are now positive for the year. The strongest production gains were concentrated in heavier classes and tractors, suggesting factory activity is running ahead of end-market sales in several segments. Canada remained positive in both sales and shipments, supported by strong commercial van demand, although tractor performance remains uneven on a YTD basis. The key point to watch is whether the recent shipment strength is absorbed by sales or begins to widen the gap between production and retail demand.
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