Preliminary data shows October Class 8 truck net orders at 22,760, 50% higher than the previous month and much improved over third-quarter averages, according to FTR Associates.
October 2012 orders were the highest since January and boost the annualized rate for the past three months to 216,000 units compared to a three-month annualized rate of just 174,400 units at the end of September. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.
“October net orders certainly came in at the high side of expectations and is the first month since very early in the year with good positive numbers,” said Eric Starks, FTR’s President. “We do, however, caution that the high October orders were primarily driven by activity at one OEM. Before this order activity can be sustained, we need to see a more industry-wide rising tide.”
Final data for October 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.