FTR: Class 8 orders continues to rise in July

Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 20,700 units in July 2017, up 14 percent from the previous month and 50 percent from the previous year, according to freight transportation analyst FTR.

   Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 20,700 units in July 2017, according to preliminary figures from freight transportation analyst FTR.
   The July order activity was up 14 percent compared with the previous month and 50 percent from the same 2016 period. Class 8 orders again met expectations as market momentum continues to build ahead of 2018, as orders for the past twelve months have totaled 231,000 units, according to FTR data. 
   August orders should help fill up remaining 2017 build slots, which would make it the best August order performance since 2014, FTR noted. 
   “August orders continue the positive trend in the Class 8 market. Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May’s 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4.
   “Freight continues to show some impressive growth,” he added. “This has created capacity tightness in some regions which is expected to spread to more areas as economic growth expands. The capacity crunch will be exacerbated by the ELD mandate, spurring demand for trucks and trailers in 2018.”