FTR Associates recently released preliminary data showing Class 8 net orders for all major North American OEMs totaling 10,758 units in August, the strongest showing since November 2008. The figure includes orders for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and exports.
Order activity for August was 19.9 percent better than the previous month and represents an annualized rate of 129,096 units.
“FTR is cautiously optimistic about the increased August preliminary Class 8 net orders,” said Eric Starks, president of FTR, based in Nashville, Ind. “However, we believe some of the orders being placed are in response to 2010 EPA emissions requirements. We still expect any recovery in the transportation industry to be slow and bumpy through next year.”
