Class 8 backlogs moved in the right direction at the start of 2017. “Stronger orders, coupled with modest build, allowed backlogs to rise 7,600 units from December to 99,600 units,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research President and Senior Analyst. Heavy duty net orders jumped to a thirteen-month high in January at 22,188 units, lending further support to the notion that Q2-Q3 2016 marked the bottom of the current cycle. A driver of renewed market strength has been an uptick in demand for vocational equipment. “Orders for vocational equipment rose to a two-year high 8,500 units, or 38.5% of the month’s intake,” said Vieth.

Echoing the positive demand of Class 8, medium duty net orders hit a six-month high at 22,744 units. That volume was up 3% month-over-month, and 31% year-over-year. “The improvement was broad-based, with truck, bus and RV orders all posting y/y and m/m gains. Seasonal adjustment lifts MD orders in January, boosting the total to 24,100 units,” Vieth noted. “On that basis, January was the best month for MD orders since February 2008,” he concluded.

ACT is the leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market. ACT’s CV services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, and worldwide banking and investment companies. For more information on ACT, please visit www.actresearch.net.