Class 8 backlogs moved in the right direction at the start of 2017, as ACT Research announced Monday that heavy-duty net orders jumped to a thirteen-month high in January at 22,188 units.
ACT says the total lends further support to the notion that Q2-Q3 2016 marked the bottom of the current cycle. A driver of renewed market strength has been an uptick in demand for vocational equipment, the company says.
“Stronger orders, coupled with modest build, allowed backlogs to rise 7,600 units from December to 99,600 units,” says Kenny Vieth, ACT Research president and senior analyst. “Orders for vocational equipment rose to a two-year high 8,500 units, or 38.5 percent of the month’s intake.”
Echoing the positive demand of Class 8, medium-duty net orders also hit a six-month high at 22,744 units. That volume was up 3 percent month-over-month, and 31 percent year-over-year.
“The improvement was broad-based, with truck, bus and RV orders all posting year-over-year and month-over-month gains. Seasonal adjustment lifts medium-duty orders in January, boosting the total to 24,100 units,” Vieth says. “On that basis, January was the best month for medium-duty orders since February 2008.”
