FTR: Class 8 orders tumble in January

Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks in January dropped 48 percent year-over-year to 18,062 units, according to preliminary data from freight forecaster FTR Transportation Intelligence.    Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 18,062 units in January, a 35 percent decline from the prior month and a 48 percent drop from January 2015, according to preliminary data from the freight forecaster FTR Transportation Intelligence.
   Order activity has been unusually volatile since September, with the minimum monthly swing exceeding more than 6,500 units.
   For the past 12 months, orders have totaled 217,000 units.
   “Orders in 2014 equaled a strong 376,000, 2015 was down from that to just 284,000 orders and now 2016 is starting off even weaker.  It is not looking to be a strong year,” FTR Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Starks said. “However, the fundamentals for freight and demand for truck services should hold up well enough to keep the market at replacement levels. In order to see that occur we would expect to see orders improve as we get into the spring months and fleets finalize their plans for 2016 expenditures.”