New truck orders closed out 2012 on positive note, but lacked year-end boom

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COLUMBUS, Ind. — North American orders for Classes 5-8 commercial vehicles were stronger in December than through most of 2012, but lacked the strength that’s normally characteristic of the final month of the year.

That according to preliminary data from ACT Research. The final numbers are expected to come in at about 14,200 Classes 5-7 units and 21,300 Class 8 trucks.

Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst with ACT Research, said concerns about the US fiscal cliff were likely to blame for the absence of a year-end spike in orders.

“We suspect the looming fiscal cliff was a limiting factor in what is typically a strong order month for Class 8,” he said. “With the biggest piece of fiscal uncertainty now in the rearview mirror, improved forward visibility should allow for better orders in coming months.”

“The 21,300 Class 8 orders booked in the month were modestly ahead of November’s order total,” Vieth added. “Like Class 8, medium-duty vehicle orders were in line with November volumes, with 14,200 net orders booked. December represented the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year order improvement.”

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