Domestic Manufacturing Drives Trucking Demand

The North American vocational truck market dominated in 2024, bolstered by a significant portion of stimulus funding yet to be spent from past federal acts, according to ACT Research. While private fleets gained market share from for-hire carriers, a cooling trend emerged in the Class 8 tractor segment later in the year. Projections for 2025 suggest a slight decline in overall Class 8 truck sales, but the vocational segment may remain stable due to ongoing stimulus incentives. The upcoming Specialized Transportation Symposium in February 2025 will feature discussions on economic outlooks and strategies for attracting a new generation of workers in the heavy transport industry. In the context of emissions, the freight trucking sector is identified as a key area for decarbonization, despite facing challenges in electrification efforts. Lastly, the resurgence of domestic manufacturing is poised to significantly boost trucking freight demand, further emphasizing the importance of local production over imports.