December Class 8 Truck Orders 'Disappointing'

Class 8 truck orders in December 2012 totaled 20,836 units, a 6 percent increase from November but a 30 percent decline from the same month in 2011, according to preliminary data from FTR Associates.

“December orders were disappointing and were at the low end of expectations,” said Eric Starks, president of FTR, in a written statement. He added that the poor performance confirms the company’s prediction of a weak start to 2013, although orders could rise if fleet buyers had been awaiting a resolution of the fiscal cliff situation.