FTR has released preliminary data showing January Class 8 truck net orders at 34,403, the second consecutive month with orders above 30K; and the first time back-to-back months have exceeded this mark since 2006. The combined order activity for December to January should allow OEMs to hit Q1 targets with possible increases in production in Q2 as forecasted by FTR. January orders improved 56% year over year with an annualized rate of 347,500 units over the past three months. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.
Don Ake, FTR Vice President of Commercial Vehicles, comments, “Orders were way beyond expectations. This is another great order month to kick-start 2014. Order strength was broad-based among manufacturers and countries. This is a very positive signal for the industry. The strong orders are consistent with the tightening of capacity in the marketplace. Fleets and dealers continue to display confidence in the freight market.”
January Class 8 truck orders exceed 30,000 for second consecutive month
For the second month in a row, FTR reports January Class 8 truck orders were above 30,000 which has not happened since 2006.
February 5, 2014
