Medium- and heavy-duty Class 5-8 orders were placed at very healthy levels in October, reported ACT Research in its latest State of the Industry Report. The research firm noted that total net orders for Class 8 were 45,978 units, up 76% year over year.
Classes 5-7 net orders were reported to be at 22,453, their strongest level since early February 2008.
“Conditions relating to freight volumes and rates and truckers’ profits and plans to purchase new equipment remained positive in the third quarter,” said Steve Tam, ACT’s vice president, commercial vehicle sector. “Through year-to-date October, net orders have been booked at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 365,800 units.”
Tam continued, “October truck orders drove the market, while buses and RVs took a breather.”
