September net orders of heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles increased 37 percent from a year earlier to 15,231 units, according to ACT Research Co.
In the latest release of its sales report covering Classes 5-8 vehicles, ACT reported the September figure was the second highest monthly total for the past two years.
“Not only was September the second best order month, the uptick in orders occurred in what is typically a below average month. Apply September’s seasonal factor, and Class 8 net orders occurred at a nearly 200,000-unit annual rate,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst. “This level of orders is a continuation of the steady increase in demand we have seen building since early this year,” he said.
Even as Class 8 orders moved higher, medium-duty Classes 5-7 orders moved in the opposite direction.
