North America Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market Outlook, 2030

The North American medium and heavy-duty truck industry has long served as the backbone of the region’s freight transportation system, powering everything from local deliveries to cross-continental long-haul routes. Encompassing vehicles ranging from Class 4 through Class 8, this sector is vital for the smooth functioning of supply chains across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Over the decades, the industry has witnessed steady growth, driven by economic expansion, trade activity under agreements like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and rising demand for goods movement due to the proliferation of e-commerce.

The industry has also adapted to changes in fleet management practices, where operators now prioritize not only cost efficiency but also vehicle uptime, safety technologies, and driver comfort to address a chronic shortage of drivers across North America. Technological transformation has been a key feature reshaping the industry. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have made remarkable strides in integrating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), improved telematics, and predictive maintenance solutions that reduce operational downtime. These technological enhancements improve both safety and efficiency on the road while giving fleet managers greater control and data visibility.

Meanwhile, stringent environmental regulations introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have compelled truck makers to develop cleaner, lower-emission diesel engines and explore zero-emission alternatives. Electric trucks and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, while still emerging in their share of the medium and heavy-duty segments, are beginning to see serious investment, pilot deployments, and pre-orders from major fleet operators seeking to future-proof their business and meet corporate sustainability goals. The success of these vehicles will, however, depend heavily on the speed of fueling infrastructure development and total cost of ownership parity with traditional diesel models.

According to the research report “North America Medium and Heavy-Duty Truck Market Outlook, 2030” the North America Medium and Heavy-Duty Truck market is projected to reach USD 91.45 Billion by 2030. The post-pandemic period, in particular, has highlighted the resilience yet vulnerability of the medium and heavy-duty truck sector. Supply chain disruptions from semiconductor shortages to global parts bottlenecks significantly delayed truck production and inflated order backlogs. This tested both manufacturers and fleet operators, as they faced elevated equipment costs and extended lead times for new trucks. As a result, many fleets stretched the lifecycles of existing trucks, investing more in aftermarket parts and maintenance services.

OEMs responded by diversifying their supplier networks and boosting nearshoring efforts to North America to reduce dependency on fragile overseas supply chains. Another critical aspect reshaping the market is the focus on total lifecycle value, with truck buyers increasingly interested in financing, warranty packages, and extended service contracts to stabilize their costs in a volatile market environment. Competition within the North American truck market is fierce, with major players including Daimler Truck (Freightliner and Western Star), PACCAR (Kenworth and Peterbilt), Volvo Trucks North America, Navistar (part of the Traton Group), and Mack Trucks, all vying for market share through innovation and aftersales support.

These manufacturers are investing in next-generation platforms that can accommodate alternative powertrains while still retaining the robust durability expected by the region’s demanding freight operators. For vocational and municipal fleets, hybrid and battery-electric trucks are starting to appear more viable for applications like refuse collection, drayage, and regional distribution, given their predictable routes and opportunities for overnight depot charging. However, long-haul Class 8 applications remain challenging for full electrification due to limitations in battery range, charging time, and weight constraints though hydrogen fuel-cell trucks could address this in the coming years if infrastructure keeps pace.

Market Drivers

• E-commerce and Just-in-Time Logistics: The massive growth of e-commerce has been a powerful driver for North America’s trucking industry. Consumers expect rapid, reliable deliveries, which puts enormous pressure on regional and last-mile freight movement. This demand ripple affects medium- and heavy-duty fleets, increasing the need for capacity, faster turnaround, and more regional distribution centers supported by trucks.
• Regulatory Push Toward Zero Emissions: Another key driver is the tightening of emissions regulations, led by states like California with its Advanced Clean Trucks rule, pushing fleets and manufacturers toward low- and zero-emission trucks. Federal support through the Inflation Reduction Act and other funding is also driving investments in cleaner technologies, making sustainability a central force shaping the industry’s future.

Market Challenges

• Driver Shortage and Workforce Aging: North America continues to struggle with a shortage of qualified drivers, made worse by an aging workforce. Attracting, training, and retaining younger drivers is a huge challenge for fleets, especially as job demands and lifestyle expectations shift.
• Infrastructure Gaps for Electrification: While there is strong regulatory and market momentum toward electric and hydrogen trucks, there is still a lack of adequate charging and fueling infrastructure along major corridors. This gap limits adoption of zero-emission trucks, especially for long-haul applications.

Market Trends

• Telematics and Predictive Maintenance: Fleets are rapidly adopting advanced telematics to monitor vehicle health, track routes, and predict maintenance needs. This trend helps reduce costly breakdowns and increases uptime, which is vital in a market where truck capacity is tight and operating costs are high.
• Fleet Electrification Pilots and Early Deployments: There is a clear trend of fleets testing and deploying battery-electric trucks in urban and regional applications, with partnerships between OEMs, utilities, and logistics players. These pilot programs are steadily paving the way for broader zero-emission adoption over the next decade.

Heavy trucks (16 tonnes and above) dominate the North American medium and heavy-duty truck market because of their unmatched capacity to handle long-haul freight and high-volume goods movement over vast distances.

North America’s vast geography, highly developed interstate highway system, and deeply integrated trade networks demand trucks that can haul heavy loads across thousands of miles efficiently and reliably. Heavy-duty trucks, particularly Class 8 tractors, are engineered for exactly this purpose, with powerful engines, robust chassis, and long-range fuel capacity that allow them to move goods between ports, distribution centers, and production facilities on a continental scale. These trucks form the backbone of industries such as retail, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, where bulk cargo volumes and long-haul routes are common.

They also support just-in-time logistics models and meet the growing expectations of e-commerce supply chains, which rely on fast and consistent replenishment of regional hubs. Medium-duty trucks are still essential for local deliveries and vocational work, but they cannot match the payload capacity, towing ability, and operational range of their heavy-duty counterparts. In a market where freight efficiency, driver utilization, and total cost of ownership are paramount, heavy trucks remain the most practical and economical solution, ensuring their leadership in the North American commercial vehicle landscape.

Internal combustion engine (ICE) propulsion leads the North American medium and heavy-duty truck market because it provides proven, cost-effective, and well-supported performance for long-haul freight over vast distances.

The North American trucking industry depends on moving massive volumes of freight across thousands of miles with tight delivery schedules, and diesel-powered internal combustion engines have long delivered the power, durability, and fueling convenience required for this mission. The continent’s extensive fueling infrastructure for diesel, established maintenance networks, and technician skills have created an ecosystem optimized around ICE technology, making it the default, risk-free choice for fleet operators seeking reliability and quick turnaround times.

Diesel ICE trucks can haul heavy loads over long distances with minimal refueling stops and without the range anxiety or charging downtime currently associated with zero-emission alternatives. Additionally, the total cost of ownership for ICE trucks remains lower for many long-haul applications, especially in a market with fierce price competition and thin margins. While electric and hydrogen trucks are gaining attention through pilot programs and urban deployments, they cannot yet match the proven performance, refueling speed, and payload capacity of diesel ICE trucks for long-distance and heavy-duty applications.

The moderate growth of tipper/dump truck body types in the North America medium and heavy-duty truck market is primarily driven by steady infrastructure development and construction activities across both urban and rural regions.

Tipper trucks, known for their ability to efficiently haul and unload loose materials such as sand, gravel, demolition waste, and asphalt, are integral to civil engineering, mining, and large-scale construction operations. In North America, federal initiatives such as the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with its over $1 trillion budget for rebuilding highways, bridges, and public transit systems, have given a significant push to the construction industry. This long-term plan has ensured that construction fleets are continually updated or expanded to meet logistical needs prompting demand for reliable, rugged dump trucks.

While the demand isn't surging at an exponential rate due to market maturity and a relatively saturated fleet base, the ongoing replacement of aging fleets and the requirement for specialized off-road dump trucks in rural and mining-heavy regions are maintaining a stable level of demand. Moreover, in Canada, public and private sector investments in road expansion, pipeline construction, and mining exploration in provinces like Alberta and British Columbia are further reinforcing the need for tipper trucks. Additionally, the North American market is increasingly inclined toward technologically advanced vehicles, and manufacturers are introducing dump trucks with enhanced fuel efficiency, telematics, and electric propulsion, which is gradually influencing replacement cycles and purchasing behavior among fleet operators.

Logistics transportation is leading in the North America medium and heavy-duty truck market because it is essential to support the region’s vast, highly integrated, and time-sensitive supply chains across diverse industries.

In North America, the scale and complexity of economic activity from manufacturing to e-commerce depend heavily on efficient, reliable logistics transportation to move raw materials, finished goods, and consumer products across thousands of miles. Medium and heavy-duty trucks form the backbone of this logistics network, enabling rapid delivery to warehouses, distribution centers, and retail outlets in an economy where just-in-time inventory management and next-day shipping have become the norm. With the rise of e-commerce, large regional distribution hubs require continuous restocking, driving even greater demand for dependable trucking services.

Logistics transportation benefits from a well-developed highway system, strong cross-border trade with Canada and Mexico, and deep integration with rail and port operations, making trucks the most flexible and responsive solution to handle shifting demand and tight delivery schedules. As industries grow more reliant on flexible, high-frequency shipments, logistics transport increasingly dominates the medium and heavy-duty truck market, providing unmatched capacity, route adaptability, and service levels that alternative transport modes cannot match.

3

The USA is leading in the North America medium and heavy-duty truck market because of its massive freight demand, advanced highway infrastructure, and highly developed trucking and logistics ecosystem.

The United States dominates the North American medium and heavy-duty truck market thanks to its enormous and diverse economy, which generates high-volume freight movement across industries ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to retail and construction. The country’s vast, world-class interstate highway network and well-connected regional roads make trucking the most efficient and flexible option for moving goods coast to coast, supporting the just-in-time inventory practices and rapid replenishment needs that define its modern supply chains.

The USA also benefits from a mature logistics sector with a highly skilled driver workforce, advanced telematics systems, and a dense network of repair facilities and fuel stations that keep trucks on the road with minimal downtime. Furthermore, strong investment in fleet renewal, driven by both private companies and federal emission and safety standards, ensures a steady demand for newer, more advanced trucks. With its integrated trade corridors linking Mexico and Canada and its leadership in freight technology adoption, the United States sets the pace for the entire North American market, cementing its leading role in the medium and heavy-duty truck industry.

Considered in this report

• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report

• Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Vehicle Class

• Medium (3.5 to 16 Tonnes)
• Heavy (16 Tonnes and Above)

By Propulsion

• ICE
• Electric
• Other

By Body Type

• Rigid Trucks
• Tractor-Trailers / Articulated Truck
• Tipper / Dump Trucks
• Other

By end users

• Logistic transportation
• Construction and Mining
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Utility And Municipal
• Other

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.