FTR: Class 8 orders rebound in August

Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 14,000 units in August 2016, a 36 percent improvement from July, but a 35 percent decline from the same 2015 period, according to freight transportation analyst FTR.    Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 14,000 units in August 2016, slightly ahead of expectations for the month, according to the latest figures from the freight transportation analyst FTR.
   The August order activity was up 36 percent from July, but fell 35 percent compared with the same 2015 period to the lowest level for the month since 2010.
   Class 8 truck orders have totaled 206,000 units in the last twelve months.
   FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles Don Ake said order activity for July and August was in line with expectations despite July historically being the weakest month of the year.
   “We expected orders to average around 12,000 per month in the July-August period, and taken as a whole, they did. There were less cancellations in August, making the month look a little better than July,” Ake said. “July will be the lowest order month of the year, which is typical. Market conditions did not deteriorate nor improve in August.
   “Fleets are now busy evaluating their truck requirements for 2017 in an uncertain freight environment,” he added. “September orders should remain moderate, with October orders giving the first indication of expected market conditions for next year.”