FTR Reports Preliminary Class 8 Orders Remain Weak for June

JOC Staff |
Nashville, IN (July 6, 2012) FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing June Class 8 truck net orders at 16,195 units, the lowest month for orders since September 2010. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEMs. June orders were 8% lower than May, dropping to 23% lower than the same month last year. 2012 orders for Class 8 trucks continue to disappoint with annualized rates coming in well below 2011 levels month after month. For the three-month period including June orders annualize to 202,700 units.

Jonathan Starks, FTR’s Director of Transportation Analysis, commented that, “truckers are operating in a modestly positive environment, but not strong enough to elicit higher demand for expensive new vehicles. Growth in freight volumes and rates slowed noticeably during late 2011 and into 2012. Despite expectations that both will improve as we finish 2012, equipment markets will have to contend with the effects of last year’s slowdown. Additionally, truck manufacturers continue to build at rates well above incoming orders. This will eventually lead to a significant reduction in new truck output.”

Final data for June will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service. Contact FTR Associates at ftr@ftrassociates.com or 1-888-988-1699 ext 1 for more details.

FTR Associates, located in Nashville, IN, has been a leader in transportation forecasting for over 20 years. The company’s U.S. Freight Model collects and analyzes all data likely to impact freight movement and is based on specific characteristics for over 200 commodity groups. FTR Associates’ forecast reports cover trucking and rail transportation and include demand analysis for commercial vehicle as well as railcar. Specially designed reports are offered to participants in both industries to cover specific needs. For more information about the work of FTR Associates, visit www.ftrassociates.com or call Helen Lile at 888-988-1699 Ext. 45.