Medium truck orders hit nine-year high: ACT

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COLUMBUS, IN – Net orders for Class 5-8 trucks reached a 16-month high of 47,300 units in March, and represented the biggest month for medium-duty truck orders in nine years, preliminary numbers from ACT Research show.

Compared to last March, the totals are up 19%.

March’s North American Class 8 orders fell about 100 units compared to February, dropping to 23,100 units, but that was 42% higher than March 2016.

Seasonally adjusted Class 5-7 orders, meanwhile, rose to 24,200 units – up 3% over the same month last year, and 5% above February totals. That still reached a point not seen since February 2008 by some measures. “Since March is a seasonally strong order month, seasonal adjustment docks the month’s order volume to 22,200 units,” added Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst. “Using this methodology, March orders failed to eclipse the January 2017 tally.”

 

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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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