Secure Your Pre-EPA27 Truck Before Costs Rise
The heavy-duty trucking industry is entering one of its biggest equipment transitions in years. Beginning with Model Year 2028, the EPA’s new heavy-duty emissions standards will require manufacturers to introduce significantly more stringent nitrogen oxide controls, resulting in new engine technology, updated aftertreatment systems, and higher engineering complexity. While these changes are designed to reduce emissions, they are also expected to increase the cost and complexity of new diesel trucks.
As has happened before major emissions changes, many fleets and contractors are choosing to purchase trucks before the new standards take effect. Industry analysts have anticipated another “pre-buy” cycle, where demand for pre-EPA27 trucks accelerates as buyers seek to lock in familiar equipment, avoid potential price increases, and secure production slots before manufacturing shifts fully to the new platform.
That increased demand is already affecting the marketplace. Available production slots for Model Year 2027 pre-EPA27 trucks are becoming more limited, and as inventories tighten, buyers often face fewer specification choices, longer lead times, and higher acquisition costs. Waiting until the final months of the model year may significantly reduce the flexibility to order the truck that best fits your operation.
Beginning in August, REL pricing increases are expected to add up to roughly the equivalent of one full monthly truck payment over the life of the agreement. For contractors planning to add equipment this year, ordering before the increase takes effect may be a meaningful way to control costs while also securing one of the remaining pre-EPA27 truck opportunities.
Ordering early provides several important advantages. It allows fleets to lock in current pricing before additional increases take effect, reserve one of the remaining pre-EPA27 build opportunities, and select from a broader range of chassis, engine, axle, and vocational configurations. Early planning also helps contractors position their fleet well ahead of seasonal demand, reducing the risk of equipment shortages during their busiest months.
Timing is especially important this summer. FedEx’s annual contractor administration blackout period begins in mid-August, which can delay onboarding activities for trucks ordered too late in the season. Even when a truck is built on schedule, administrative delays can postpone delivery, activation, and revenue generation, making early ordering an important part of keeping fleet expansion plans on track.
The contractors who planned ahead are already in a strong position. For fleets still planning equipment additions this year, there is still time to secure a pre-EPA27 truck, but that window continues to narrow. If expanding your fleet is part of your 2026 business plan, now is an excellent time to speak with the REL Leasing team about available inventory, production availability, and the truck specifications that best fit your operation before choices become even more limited.
