Canada truck market ‘particularly robust’: FTR

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BLOOMINGTON, IN – Class 8 truck sales continued to recover in September, reaching 22,100 units overall. That’s up 7% compared to the previous month, and 62% above a year ago.

Those order volumes meet expectations, and Canadian orders were “particularly robust” as fleets benefit from a strong economy, say the analysts at FTR.

North American Class 8 orders reached 239,000 units in the past 12 months.

 “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,” said Don Ake, vice president – commercial vehicles at FTR. “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,” he added.

Final September data will be available from FTR later in the month.

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John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.


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