After a surprising slide in May, Class 8 net orders climbed to 17,600 units – a 7 percent improvement month-over-month and 38 percent over June last year, according to data published by FTR Wednesday.
Total orders for the past twelve months have totaled 216,000 units.
“The June orders confirm that the market just took a brief respite in May after several stronger than expected months,” says Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “The orders are right where we expect them to be and on track with our forecast. The fact that orders are up 38 percent over last year proves the market is much improved this year.”
Ake says fleets are ordering to fill out their remaining requirements for the second half of the year, adding it is still good news that orders rose and did not drop significantly from May.
“This shows the market is steady, stable and primed for a strong year in 2018,” he says.
