February Class 8 Orders Best in 13 Months

COLUMBUS, IN — North America heavy duty GVW Class 8 preliminary net orders for February rose to their highest reading since January 2012, ACT Research reported yesterday. Medium duty orders also showed strength.

The final numbers, released mid-March, will approach 23,300 units for heavy duty Class 8 and 16,400 for medium duty Classes 5-7 vehicles and trucks.

“With Class 8 build in February below 20,000 units, backlogs should rise once again. On a seasonally adjusted basis, February’s Class 8 net orders were 22,900 units, in a dead heat for the best reading in the past year,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst, ACT Research.

“Medium-duty orders easily outpaced both January 2013 and February 2012. February’s volume was up 13% versus last year. Similar to the Class 8 market, Classes 5-7 net orders above February’s build expectations suggests backlogs are likely to have moved higher,” he added.