NASHVILLE, Ind. — Preliminary data showing Class 8 total net orders for all major North American OEMs totaled 8,101 units in June, an increase of 9.7 percent from May 2009 and the first improvement in three months.

FTR Associates reports, however, that June 2009 orders were still down a whopping 52.7 percent versus the same month in 2008, which wasn’t exactly a booming period either.

Eric Starks, President of FTR said "June’s increase is a welcome sign that the heavy-duty market continues to stabilize, although at very low levels. We expect to see additional slow improvement through the end of the year, but meaningful increases in equipment purchases will necessarily await higher freight demand. We do not foresee more freight moving for some time yet."