April Orders for New Class 8s Rise 91%, ACT Report Says

New orders for heavy-duty trucks increased 91% in April, from the same month of 2009, ACT Research Co. reported.

Orders for new Class 8s for the first four months of 2010 totaled 40,500 vehicles, a 30% increase from the same time in 2009, Kenny Vieth, ACT partner and senior analyst told Transport Topics.

Through April, truck manufacturers and dealers have sold 32,466 Class 8 trucks in 2010, up from 28,496 units in the same period last year, an increase of 13.9%, WardsAuto.com reported (5-17, p. 1; click here for previous story).

April net orders of medium-duty Classes 5-7 equipment grew by 39% from April 2009, ACT reported.

ACT, Columbus, Ind., attributed the lower showing in medium-duty trucks to weakness in the housing market and tightening state budgets.