News

US President Donald Trump has announced a number of tariff-related changes once again. In a series of posts on his preferred social media network Truth Social, the 47th American president announced a 25 per cent import duty on heavy trucks, among other actions. The move, he wrote , is to protect "great heavy truck manufacturers" like Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner and Mack Trucks from "unfair outside competition". 

This marks the latest in the ongoing tariff war between the world's largest economy and its trade partners triggered by the Trump 2.0 administration. Trump's tariff policy has often left investors and policymakers confused, while many financial experts have questioned its impact on the US and other major economies across the globe. 

The proposed 25 per cent duty will take effect from October 1, wrote Trump. 

Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source

The president described competition from non-American heavy truck makers as "onslaught of outside interruptions". 

Here are three important points from Trump's Truth Social post about the heavy truck industry: 

"We need our Truckers to be financially healthy and strong, for many reasons, but above all else, for National Security purposes!" he wrote. 

ALSO READ: H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Centre, Nasscom assess impact of Trump's $100,000 H-1B fee 

Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions (FAQs) about heavy trucks in the US: 

Trucks weighing 10,000 pounds (gross weight) and above are recognised as heavy trucks in the US. 

According to official data, this segment forms the very backbone of the American commercial vehicle market, with around 2.97 million tractor-trailer registrations and an overall total of more than 13.5 million trucks of all classes, as of 2025.

The heavy truck industry serves as a lifeline to cross-border trade, carrying 67 per cent of US-Canada surface trade and 85 per cent of US-Mexico trade by value annually.

While most American trucking companies are small businesses, 91.5 per cent of the fleets operate 10 or fewer trucks, highlighting the fragmented industry structure, according to industrial data.

The Federal Highway Administration, under the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), classifies trucks into three broad categories based on a metric known as gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). 

Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.

LATEST NEWSBy accepting cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.