FTR Associates on Wednesday, Oct. 3, released preliminary data showing September Class 8 truck net orders at 15,205, down slightly from August. September orders were 35 percent below the same month last year, contributing to the weakest quarter since third quarter of 2012, according to FTR.
The annualized rate for net orders placed in the third quarter of this year came in at just 174,400 units, FTR said. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs.
“September orders were at the low end of our expectations, so they were somewhat disappointing,” said Eric Starks, FTR president. “We wouldn’t have been surprised to see three to four thousand more units ordered in the month, but the reported numbers were certainly within the range we expected to see, albeit softer than we would have liked. Even with sluggish freight levels, we still expect to see a seasonal bounce in orders during the fourth quarter, but likely not at levels that many in the industry are hoping to see.”
