Class 8 Orders for January Exceed 30,000 for Second Straight Month: FTR

Feb. 5, 2014
Preliminary data show January Class 8 truck net orders at 34,403, the second consecutive month with orders above 30,000, and the first time back to back months have exceeded this mark since 2006.

Preliminary data show January Class 8 truck net orders at 34,403, the second consecutive month with orders above 30,000, and the first time back to back months have exceeded this mark since 2006, according to FTR Associates.

The combined order activity for December-January should allow OEMs to hit Q1 targets with possible increases in production in Q2 as forecasted by FTR. January orders improved 56% year-over-year with an annualized rate of 347,500 units over the past three months. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.
 
“Orders were way beyond expectations,” said Don Ake, FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles. “This is another great order month to kick-start 2014.  Order strength was broad-based among manufactures and countries. This is a very positive signal for the industry. The strong orders are consistent with the tightening of capacity in the marketplace. Fleets and dealers continue to display confidence in the freight market.”
 
Final data for January will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service. To contact FTR, send an email to [email protected] or call (888) 988-1699 ext. 1.