COLUMBUS, Ind. — Truck order activity closed out 2015 on a strong note, according to preliminary figures from ACT Research.

Classes 5-8 orders totaled 49,700 units, up 40% from November.

“December’s volume represented the strongest aggregate month for net orders since 50,900 orders were booked in February, 2015,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Despite being up sequentially, orders fell over 17,000 units, or 26%, from December 2014, marking the ninth consecutive month in which industry orders fell below year-ago levels.”

Class 8 net orders, at 28,100 units, posted their strongest month since February. They were up 68% compared to November but still 36% below December 2014, the fourth best month ever for volume.

Classes 5-7 orders were above 20,000 units for the third time in the past four months, the first time that has happened since mid-2006, ACT reports.