Preliminary North America Class 8 net order data show the industry booked 53,100 units in August, breaking the all-time record set last month in another typically weak order intake month of the year, ACT Research reported.

“Preliminary data indicate that during the month of August, NA Class 8 orders rose 0.9 percent month-over-month and 150 percent from August 2017,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “Super-strong orders in June and July are likely pulling large fleet orders ahead in the schedule, as truckers race to reserve build slots in a market where demand is running well above capacity.”

Orders from June to August were booked at a 700,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate.

ACT notde that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for August, including final order numbers, will be published in mid-September.

About medium duty orders, Vieth commented, “Trendy medium duty order activity continued in August, with orders coming in slightly below the average of the previous four months. August preliminary NA Classes 5-7 net orders rose 26 percent year-over-year and 18 percent compared to July, at 23,700 units. Seasonality provides a modest boost to August’s medium duty orders, bringing the rise to 24,100 units.”