Demand for commercial vehicles was healthy in December, as 65,700 total NA Class 5-8 orders were booked, up 41 percent from a year ago. Over the past 12 months, NA Class 5-8 net orders have totaled 602,300 units – an average of more than 50,000 orders per month. These are preliminary numbers – actual numbers will be released mid-January.
“December’s 43,900 NA Class 8 net orders mark the fourth-best month on record and bring the full year order total to just over 380,000 units,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “As has been the case throughout 2014, the strength in order activity is symptomatic of converging trends that are favorable to demand, including stronger economic activity, lingering pent-up demand, sizeable fuel economy gains, and rising carrier profitability."
Vieth said that December’s preliminary 21,800 NA Class 5-7 net orders was the second strongest order month cycle-to-date. “December’s medium duty orders rose 44 percent compared to last December. In 2014, Class 5-7 net orders totaled 222,200 units, up 12 percent compared to 2013,” he added.
