#1 trend in the truck industry for 2026

After years of record-breaking growth and rapid change, the Australian truck industry is entering a new phase and smart efficiency has emerged as the defining truck trend for 2026.

The final mandatory rollout of Euro 6 emissions standards under ADR 80/04 has reset the regulatory landscape, while the Truck Industry Council (TIC) notes the market has entered a “naturally cooling” phase after four years of unprecedented sales growth.

As a result, the industry’s focus has shifted away from sheer volume and toward smarter, more efficient fleet operation. From purchasing decisions to vehicle specification, 2026 is shaping up as a year where micro-gains, total cost of ownership and operational intelligence take centre stage.

Trucksales spoke with leaders from Isuzu, Scania, Hino and Volvo to understand how efficiency – rather than expansion – is driving the next chapter of the market.

For Isuzu, efficiency begins at the design and delivery level. The brand’s defining moment of 2025 was the launch of its all-new Euro 6 model range – its first full update since 2008.

Chief Engineer, Simon Humphries, said regulatory pressure compressed what was meant to be a gradual transition into a sprint, but the end result is a far more intelligent product lineup.

“So, 2025 for us was about a massive changeover from previous models to an all-new model range,” Humphries said.

“We’ve got to make trucks more car-like and less scary for the drivers… certainly driver retention and attracting them to the industry is really important.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Isuzu’s focus is on practical efficiency through local customisation. That includes dual-control refuse models and a locally developed 10x4 FYX configuration to better suit Australian weight and stability demands.

The rollout of the updated N Series – including a new nine-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission – further reflects Isuzu’s emphasis on drivability, productivity and reduced fatigue.

Humphries believes the way trucks are purchased is also changing, with efficiency now extending beyond the vehicle itself and into availability.

“A lot of people buying trucks these days want to see something pretty much like the experience they get in a car dealership,” he said.

“The key is availability. If they can get something that the plates can be bolted on this afternoon or tomorrow instead of having to wait three or five months for a body to be built, then of course they’re going to be interested.”

Scania sees efficiency as a necessary correction after years of excess.

Director of Sales, Ben Nye, believes 2026 will be the year the market fully levels out, forcing operators to become more disciplined and analytical.

“What goes up must come down… and I think 2026 is going to be the year of reckoning; it's really going to level everything, it’s going to square everyone up,” Nye said.

That reckoning is pushing buyers to look beyond upfront pricing and instead focus on whole-of-life costs. Replacement cycles are tightening as fleets chase stronger resale values and lower downtime.

“People are really starting to pay attention… things like downtime, and understanding what that means,” he said.

“There’s a trend where operators are moving away from five years and a million kilometres and instead running trucks for three years and 800,000 kilometres.”

Nye also notes that financing behaviour is changing, with buyers questioning whether every extra option genuinely contributes to operational efficiency.

“Five grand over a three or four-year term… is it getting you a higher transport rate?”

While Scania continues to trial electric trucks in extreme Pilbara mining conditions, Nye frames these trials as part of a broader efficiency journey rather than an overnight transition.

“They have performed even better than expected on recent runs,” he said.

For Hino, efficiency in 2026 is as much about strategic product deployment as it is about technology.

President and CEO, Richard Emery, is upfront about the supply challenges the brand will face during its Euro 6 transition, stemming from emissions certification issues in Japan in 2022.

“This has created a knock-on effect for Australia’s ADR 80/04 timeline,” Mr Emery said.

“We will see a gap in supply of ten or more months in 2026… we’ve effectively sold out of the current 500 Series until late 2026.”

To maintain market momentum, Hino is leaning on its already Euro 6-compliant Hybrid Electric 300 Series and the heavy-duty 700 Series. Emery sees hybrids as a practical efficiency solution – balancing cost, range and emissions.

“Hybrids hit the sweet spot,” he said, particularly as diesel prices continue to rise.

Emery also points to the ageing national fleet – now averaging 14 years – as a looming efficiency and safety issue that will drive renewal once supply normalises.

“The old trucks are not up to the safety standard of today and they will need to be replaced,” he said.

“We think we'll be back into a growth phase by 2027 onwards.”

Volvo Group Australia (VGA) believes efficiency in 2026 will come from accumulation rather than revolution.

Director of Product & Performance, Shayne Commons, says while electrification remains a long-term goal, the immediate gains are being found in smaller, smarter improvements.

“With sustainability, the first thing everyone thinks about is straight to battery electric,” Commons said.

“But in actual fact, we’re working on those micro-adjustments or small improvements such as aerodynamic cab design and low rolling resistance tyres to save fuel.”

VGA is also seeing rising demand for connected ecosystems, as operators seek data-driven efficiency across vehicles, trailers and bodies.

The company’s answer to that is its developer portal that allows third-party systems to integrate directly into the truck, enabling smarter fleet management and better utilisation.

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