Preliminary Class 8 Orders Down 14% in November: FTR

Dec. 5, 2012
Preliminary data shows that November Class 8 truck net orders were 19,683 units, 14% below October and down 3% year-over-year, according to FTR Associates

Preliminary data shows that November Class 8 truck net orders were 19,683 units, 14% below October and down 3% year-over-year, according to FTR Associates.

However, November was still the second-highest month for orders since March and annualize to 236,200 units. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.

“Order activity slowed in November, which is not normal for this time of the year,” said Jon Starks, FTR’s Director of Transportation Analysis. “However, the current order levels reaffirm our forecast for next year, which has been at the low end of other industry forecasts. We have been forecasting a sub-240,000 unit production year for 2013 since June of this year and it appears that the market is confirming what we were seeing back then in late spring.

“There is no big push to get year-end delivery prior to the depreciation expiration on December 31. We need to see stronger orders to finish the year and start 2013 if we want to get more bullish on the market."

Final data for November 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.