COLUMBUS, Ind. — October net orders of North American heavy-duty vehicles were the second highest monthly total in the last two and a half years, according to ACT Research (ACT).

ACT says orders for class 8 trucks hit 18,914 units, up 24 percent month-over-month from September.

Medium-duty classes 5-7 net orders also gained sequentially, posting 19 percent month-over-month growth.

In the latest release of the State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles, ACT noted that the class 8 net orders were the second highest since April of 2008 – only a one month surge in October 2009 produced greater net orders, as some carriers sought to get the last of lower priced engines in advance of an EPA emission mandate.

"While September gave a hint to increasing demand for Class 8 equipment, October orders provided the strongest sign yet that the transportation sector recognizes the need to replace aging equipment," said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst. "With production of equipment rising only slightly in October, the order backlog is now 29 percent above it trough earlier this year, a sign that the commercial vehicle manufacturing sector is getting healthier."