With Fiscal Uncertainty in Rearview Mirror, Truck Orders Could Pick Up

COLUMBUS, IN – December’s preliminary net orders for classes 5-8 are showing an improvement from where orders were through most of 2012, ACT Research reported yesterday. December was also the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year order improvement.

“The 21,300 Class 8 orders booked in the month were modestly ahead of November’s order total,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst, ACT Research. “Like Class 8, medium-duty vehicle orders were in line with November volumes, with 14,200 net orders booked.”

Those, of course, are preliminary numbers, typically accurate within 5 percent. Final numbers will be released mid-January.

“We suspect the looming fiscal cliff was a limiting factor in what is typically a strong order month for Class 8,” commented Vieth. “With the biggest piece of fiscal uncertainty now in the rearview mirror, improved forward visibility should allow for better orders in coming months.”