JOC Staff | Feb 05, 2013 1:15PM EST
Nashville, Ind.-based transportation forecaster FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing Class 8 truck net orders in January at 22,235, which is 7 percent higher than in December 2012, but down 11 percent year-over-year.
Orders for Class 8 vehicles have been above the 20,000 mark for the past four months, showing “some strength” after a soft period in mid-2012, according to the report.
“We’ve been forecasting a weak start to 2013 and the numbers we’re now seeing, while improving, are still below where they should be for a solid recovery,” said Eric Starks, FTR’s president, in a written statement.
Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American original equipment manufacturers.
