FTR: Class 8 orders stay strong in December

FTR Associates on Jan. 6 released preliminary data showing December Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs at 25,247 units, a 3 percent drop from the strong November activity.

Net order activity for the final quarter of 2010 annualized to 280,324 units. The figure includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and exports.

“Order activity for December came in on the high side of expectations and supports our view that production and sales will continue to accelerate during 2011,” said Eric Starks, FTR president. “Freight demand will need to remain solid in early 2011 to maintain this strong order activity for Class 8 units.”

Starks said other issues such as the growing driver shortage as the economy improves will place a drag on fleets’ ability to add capacity. “The current order activity is primarily for units to replace aging trucks,” he said.