Class 8 net orders in September totaled 19,018 units, says ACT research in its monthly report, released in October. September is usually the second weakest month of the year, ACT said, orders were expected to be “modest.”
However, orders in the month were lower than expected, says ACT President and Senior Analyst Kenny Vieth. “While low historically, they deviated from the recent trend, rising to 2.3 percent of backlog. October is usually the top cancellation month, suggesting cancellations are likely to be above the recent trend again next month.”
ACT reported trailer orders in the month to be strong — above 240,000 at an annualized rate — but the backlog of trailer orders is thinning, it says.
October, though, is generally the “kick-off” month for trailer ordering, ACT’s Frank Maly says. “The upcoming months will be critical to laying the foundation for the 2014 market,” he said.
