Preliminary North American Class 5-8 net order data show the industry booked 67,700 units in 2018’s second month. February’s volume makes it the third-strongest order month since the EPA’07 pre-buy-fueled March 2006 order volume and the fifth best order month of the millennium.
“Despite falling 17% below January’s best-in-twelve-years order intake, February’s industry order volume still makes it into the pantheon of all-time great months, with both the MD and HD markets contributing generously to the final order tally,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “On a seasonally adjusted basis, net orders rose 42% y/y to 63,000 units – also the fifth best all-time reading.”
After an uninspired rate of order placement in Q4, Class 5-7 orders have come on strong at the start of 2018.
“In February, Class 5-7 orders fell 15% from January to a still-strong 26,700 units – the second-best month since July 2006 and the third-best month on record,” said Vieth.
About Class 8 orders, Vieth commented, “Robust Class 8 order placements continued in February. For the month, Class 8 orders totaled 40,600 units – the eighth-best order month on record and the ninth time in history in which orders eclipsed the 40,000-unit mark. Seasonal adjustment reduces the month’s order largess to 37,600 units, up 63% compared to last February’s order intake.”