Commercial vehicle update: Demand softens while structural costs mount

Commercial vehicle indicators for August show persistent demand softness across truck, trailer, and recreational vehicle (RV) markets, coupled with rising structural costs from newly imposed tariffs.

While some seasonal ordering trends surfaced, underlying freight weakness and policy headwinds continued to dampen order activity and constrain production planning across the sector.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.