THE Australian truck market is slowing with sales especially down in the heavy segment compared with 2024, according to the latest data from the Truck Industry Council.

TIC CEO Tony McMullan said that all truck segments were down in 2025 with the most noticeable decline at the heavy end of the market. 

“However, despite slowing sales this year when compared to the record sales witnessed in 2024, the market remains quite strong, with the quarter one 2025 result the second best start to a year on record,” he said.“Given the potential financial market volatility that we have historically seen in a federal election year, the current heavy vehicle market’s strength and resilience is pleasing to note. 

“However, this will no doubt be tested over the course of the next few months leading up to and beyond the May 3 election.”

In the first three months of the year, TIC reported that new truck sales fell from the record levels recorded for the same period in 2024.

This occurred in all heavy vehicle segments – Heavy, Medium and Light Duty Truck and Light Duty Van. 

Yet despite this weakening across all segments, the first quarter result is still the third best quarter one result on record, only beaten by the record January to March results from 2023 and 2024. 

TIC said that year-to-date, a total of 10,356 trucks and vans were delivered in Australia. This is a decrease of 772 units (or down 6.9 per cent) over this time last year.

“Looking just at the month of March 2025 in isolation, 4125 vehicles were sold, a decrease of 214 trucks (4.9 per cent) over March 2024,” TIC said.

Tony McMullan

The Heavy Duty Truck segment was down again in March with a total of 1363 units delivered, down noticeably, 11.1 per cent (equivalent to 170 trucks), on March 2024. 

“The first quarter result is marginally better, still in negative territory though, with 3380 Heavy sales year-to-date, representing just a 10.8 per cent decline (408 trucks) over quarter one 2024 sales,” it said.

The Medium Duty segment posted solid sales in 2024, however the segment is down like all others in 2025. 

The March 2025 result saw total sales of 623 Medium trucks, down 4.6 per cent, (30 units), on March 2024. 

At the end of the first quarter, a total of 1664 Medium Duty trucks were delivered, down by 4.4 per cent (77 trucks) over the 2024 tally.

Light Duty truck sales (those with a GVM between 3500 kg and 8000 kg) saw record sales in 2023, fading slightly in 2024. 

TIC said that those slowing sales in 2024 had carried through into 2025 with new sales in the Light truck market shrinking a little more in quarter one. 

“March saw sales for the small end of the truck market slide in-line with the trend seen year-to-date,” it said.

“In March, 1177 Light trucks were delivered which is down 7.4 per cent (94 trucks) over March 2024.  

“For the quarter, Light Duty truck sales lag those of the same period last year also by 7.4 per cent, that equates to 235 less Light trucks sold in 2025 compared with quarter one 2024.”

Light Duty Van sales (vans with a GVM between 3500 kg and 8000 kg) were solid throughout last year, leading to a new segment record by year-end 2024. 

However, TIC said that in line with the trend seen in other segments, Van sales in 2025 have fallen away from the record levels of 2024.

The segment posted solid sales in March with a total of 962 units, up 9.1 per cent, or 80 vans, when compared with March 2024.  

However overall, the first quarter tally is tracking down, with 2385 vans delivered so far in 2025, this is down by 2.1 per cent (52 vans) compared to the end of March 2024.