Heavy Truck Orders Rise 8.3 Percent

In a new sign that trucking companies are investing in new capacity again, net heavy truck orders jumped 8.3 percent in August from July and were up 16.8 percent from a year ago, according to preliminary data from FTR Associates.

Total net truck orders came in at 12,337 for the month, in line with the monthly average of 13,000 net units ordered over the last six months, FTR said.

“August net orders for Class 8 vehicles came in about where we expected, very similar to July numbers,” said Eric Starks, president of the Nashville, Ind., company.

The research firm expects demand to remain constant through the end of 2010.

FTR’s preliminary announcement followed a report from ACT Research that new truck sales slipped 27 percent in July from June, after rising in previous months.

http://www.joc.com/trucking/truck-trailer-sales-slip-july

However, momentum in Class 8 demand is increasing as trucking company profitability rebounds strongly, said Ken Vieth, ACT partner and senior analyst.

Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com