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Oct 4, 2012 1:45 PM

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.