ACT Research reports that thanks to the healthy order levels noted at the beginning of the month, coupled with what are still fairly restrained build levels, Class 8 backlogs increased again in March. The month-ending data from March indicates that the second quarter fill rate is running well ahead of historical norms. OEM build plans now stretch into September, and show a significant ramp-up in the second quarter that is largely continued in the third. “Q3 fill is running at 42%, which is in line with previous-year patterns, suggesting that the build plan is solid,” said Jim Meil, Principal and Industry Analyst at ACT Research.

Inventory levels in March were almost unchanged from February. Retail sales were up 30.7%, but down 20.0% from March 2016. With the month-over-month hike in retail sales, the inventory/sales ratio fell in closing of Q1. Sizable progress has been made in downsizing inventories since the fourth quarter of 2015 when the unit count topped 70k. “While there still is some trimming to do to reach an inventory/sales ratio target range of about 2.2, the heavy lifting is now pretty much accomplished,” noted Meil.