ACT Research reported Friday preliminary North America Classes 5-8 net order data of 67,700 units in February, making last month the third strongest order month since the EPA-2007 prebuy-fueled March 2006 order volume, and the fifth best order month of the millennium.
“Despite falling 17 percent below January’s best-in-twelve-years order intake, February’s industry order volume still makes it into the pantheon of all-time great months, with both the medium- and heavy-duty markets contributing generously to the final order tally,” says Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “On a seasonally adjusted basis, net orders rose 42 percent year-over-year to 63,000 units – also the fifth best all-time reading.”
In the Class 8 market, Vieth announced February orders totaled units – the eighth best order month on record and the ninth time in history in which orders eclipsed the 40,000-unit mark. “Seasonal adjustment reduces the month’s order largess to 37,600 units, up 63 percent compared to last February’s order intake,” he says.
ACT Research adds that after an uninspired rate of order placement in Q4, medium-duty Classes 5-7 orders have come on strong at the start of 2018.
“In February, Classes 5-7 orders fell 15 percent from January to a still-strong 26,700 units – the second best month since July 2006 and the third best month on record,” says Vieth.
