FTR Associates on Thursday, March 3, released preliminary data showing February Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs at 23,998, a 12 percent decline from January’s exceptionally strong level of net orders. Class 8 orders continue the positive prior-year comparisons, with February 2011 preliminary orders 210 percent up from February 2010. The figure includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and Exports.
Eric Starks, President of FTR commented “FTR has had a very cautious outlook to this point given the unusually high levels of uncertainty in the economy. Although February orders showed a decline from January, we have become more comfortable with the durability of the economic recovery in general and the outlook for heavy-duty trucks in particular. The continuing strong outlook for the industrial sector that provides a disproportionate amount of truck freight demand is a very good sign. As a result, we have recently increased our 2011 projection for Class 8 truck sales by 10%.”
