FTR preliminary data for July 2014 North American Class 8 truck net orders show a 71% grow year over year, making 2014 the second best July ever. FTR reports July’s net orders as 29,516 units, noting that the current level order will change capacity constraints by the end of the year.

“July is typically the weakest month of the year for orders, but the market is actually gaining strength in the summer. This is the third straight month of order increases.  Orders for the last 12 months have been 312,000 units, so production should catch up at some point,” said Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial vehicles.

Final data for July will be available from FTR later in the month.