Class 8 Orders lower than expected

Oct. 4, 2012
Net orders for Class 8 trucks slipped to 15,205 in September, down slightly from August, according to data compiled by FTR

Net orders for Class 8 trucks slipped to 15,205 in September, down slightly from August, according to data compiled by FTR.

Orders also were down 35% when compared with those of September 2011 orders. The lower than expected performance of September contribute to the weakest quarter for Class 8 orders since the third quarter of 2010. The annualized rate for net orders placed in the third quarter of this year came in at just 174,400 units. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.

“September orders were at the low end of our expectations so they were somewhat disappointing,” said Eric Starks, FTR president. “We wouldn’t have been surprised to see three to four thousand more units ordered in the month, but the reported numbers were certainly within the range we expected to see, albeit softer than we would have liked. Even with sluggish freight levels, we still expect to see a seasonal bounce in orders during the fourth quarter, but likely not at levels that many in the industry are hoping to see.”

Final data for September will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service. Contact FTR Associates at ftr@ftrassociates.com or 1-888-988-1699 ext 1 for more details.