FTR Reports Class 8 Orders Continue to Improve in September

FTR releases preliminary North American Class 8 net orders for September at 22,100 units, continuing month-over-month increases of 7% versus August and 62% above a year ago. Order volume for September met FTR expectations as the market builds momentum heading into the fall order season. Orders from Canada were particularly robust as fleets are benefitting from a strong economy. North American Class 8 orders for the past 12 months have totaled 239,000 units.

Don Ake, Vice President of Commercial Vehicles at FTR, comments, “The recovery in the Class 8 market is building, and we saw that with the orders through the summer. Order totals never got that low and followed cyclical trends. This is a healthy, growing truck market, which is in excellent position for greater expansion in 2018. Class 8 order rates are expected to jump in Q4.”

“Stronger freight growth generated by a more vibrant U.S. economy will spur demand for additional trucks next year. Factor in the loss of productivity from the ELDs, and fleets will have to expand capacity to haul the available freight.”