North America Heavy- and Medium-Duty Preliminary Orders Up 44% Year over Year

Preliminary NA Classes 5-8 net orders were 53,000 units in November, up 44% year over year, and slightly down from October’s order surge. “Continued Class 8 order strength in November and in-line medium-duty orders added up to a second consecutive month of ‘best-since’ order activity,” says Kenny Vieth, President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research. He continues, “Seasonally adjusted, orders rose 2.8% from October to 50,300 units, marking November as the best month for NA Classes 5-8 orders since February 2015.” Note that these numbers are preliminary; complete industry data for November, to include final order results, will be available mid-December in ACT’s State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Vehicles report. 

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders remained elevated in November, with 32,900 units added to the books. Despite being the second-best order month since January 2015, November’s orders fell 8.7% from October. “Historically, November is the third best order month of the year,” notes Vieth. He continues, “As such, seasonal adjustment lowers the month’s intake to 30,000 units, down 4.7% from October.”

Preliminary data indicate that Classes 5-7 net orders inched higher from October, rising to 20,100 units. At +15%, November’s order volume generated the best year-over-year performance in 6 months. “Seasonal adjustment, which was a drag in October, turned incrementally positive in November,” says Vieth. He continues, “When adjusted, the medium-duty net order volume rises to 20,400 units, up 16% sequentially and 17% year over year.”