Orders for Class 8 trucks totaled 18,900 units, up 13% when compared to the same month last year, according to ACT Research. Compared with May, however, orders finished lower.
Similar to Class 8, June’s medium-duty orders exhibited the same pattern of year-over-year growth. The preliminary tally of Classes 5-7 orders shows a month-over-month decline to 14,900 units, but a 6% increase compared to June 2012. Based on truckers’ historical ordering patterns, activity typically slows in the May to September time frame.
“Given the softer customer activity, both Class 8 and Classes 5-7 backlogs are likely to be reduced as OEMs build more vehicles than they received orders for during June,” said Steve Tam, ACT’s vice-president, commercial vehicle sector. “Industry watchers can take solace in the fact that this is an almost perennial ritual that takes place as buyers turn their attention to pursuits other than purchasing new equipment.”
For more information on ACT, visit http://www.actresearch.net.