By Eugene Maslov, Founder and Finance Broker at Lendr360
Published 23 September 2026 · Last reviewed 24 September 2026
Australia’s new-truck market softened in August 2026, but the headline result does not tell the whole story.
Truck Industry Council T-Mark data recorded 2,989 new trucks and heavy commercial vans delivered during the month. That was 10.9% below July and 17.8% below August 2025.
Across the first eight months of 2026, 25,871 vehicles were delivered—13.3% fewer than during the same period last year.
The slowdown was uneven
Heavy-duty trucks proved comparatively resilient. August deliveries were only 1.9% below the same month last year.
Medium-duty deliveries fell 25% year on year, while light-duty deliveries declined 28.7%. Different operators and vehicle categories are clearly experiencing different market conditions.
A softer market can create opportunities
Lower demand may produce better stock availability, shorter delivery times or stronger supplier campaigns. However, a discounted truck is not automatically the right business decision.
Before replacing or adding a truck, consider:
• the work already contracted or reasonably expected
• the revenue and margin the truck must generate
• repair, maintenance and downtime costs on the existing truck
• fuel use, payload and productivity differences
• the required deposit, repayments and cash reserves
• the proposed loan term and any balloon payment
Let the truck’s job guide the finance
The important question is not simply whether truck prices are attractive. It is what the new truck will earn, what the existing truck is costing and how much cash the change will absorb.
A longer finance term or larger balloon may reduce regular repayments, but it can also change the total cost and leave a larger obligation at the end.
Planning to replace or add a truck? Speak with Lendr360 before ordering so we can help compare the cash-flow effect—not only the regular repayment.
General information only. Market conditions may change. Finance is subject to lender criteria, approval, fees and terms. Business operators should obtain professional advice appropriate to their circumstances.
Sources and further reading
- Truck Industry Council — Australian truck-market data
- trucksales — Australian truck sales fall below 3,000 in August
The second source reports the detailed August figures from the Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark dataset.