Truck Orders Almost Double, Rise to 41,000 in November
North American Class 8 truck orders jumped 93.5% in November to 41,000 units, the second-highest total since 2006, ACT Research reported.
Orders slipped 10.8% on a sequential basis from October’s revised 45,978 level, which was the second highest on record after the 52,200 recorded in March 2006.
November was the fifth-highest total on record and improved due to “rising economic activity, pent-up demand, strong new equipment fuel-economy gains, and most importantly, rising freight rates, which bolster carrier profitability,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst.
Year-to-date, heavy-duty truck orders have totaled 336,214 — a 42.6% increase over the same period last year.
Classes 5-7 orders totaled 17,500 in November, which was “somewhat of a letdown following on the heels of a strong three-month period of order placement,” ACT said.
Those medium-duty orders were down 4% year-over-year and 22% below October’s strong intake level, the group said.
