North American Truck Orders Slow in June

COLUMBUS, IN – Orders for new Class 8 trucks in North America slipped a little during June from the month before while they fell dramatically in the medium-duty Class 5 through Class 7 sector, according to new figures released on Monday by commercial vehicle industry data provider ACT Research.

Class 8 net orders were just under 20,300 units in June, compared to 20.500 in May, while Classes 5-7 posted orders were 15,500, down from 19,900 the month before,

Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst, said that after a stumble at the start of the year, a modest economic rebound was seen in the April-June timeframe and that the North American Class 8 market is playing out largely as anticipated.

“With the backlog filling early in 2015, Class 8 production and sales metrics continued to gain momentum in June, growing 19% [from June 2014] and 17% year-to-date, respectively,” he said.

According to Vieth, based on ACT’s expectations for orders and build over the next three months, backlogs will continue to fall before reversing course in October.

When it comes to the performance of the medium duty sector, he said June, the worst performance in a year, needs to be put into context.

“In the preceding 9 months, medium duty orders averaged 19,800 units per month,” Veith said. “Impacting orders, about 10% of the Classes 6-7 market is out of commission for several months as a factory is moved.”


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*