Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 13,100 units in June, gaining 20 percent from May’s three-year low, but down a significant 69 percent from year-ago June’s very tough comparison, ACT Research reported.

“Weak freight market and rate conditions across North America and a still-large Class 8 backlog continue to bedevil new Class 8 orders,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “Seasonal adjustment lifts June’s Class 8 net orders to 15,100 units, and through the first half of 2019, Class 8 net orders were booked at a 181,000 SAAR.”

Regarding the medium duty market, Vieth explained, “The medium-duty order trend remains off the pace set in the first half of 2018, but continues to benefit from the underlying strength in the consumer economy. In June, NA Classes 5-7 net orders were 19,200 units, down 30 percent Y/Y and 5.7 percent from May. While we have to go back 23 months to find a weaker MD order month on an actual basis, we only have to go back three months when looking at seasonally adjusted data.”

Note that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for June, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-July.