FTR has released preliminary data showing February Class 8 truck net orders at 28,876, the highest February. Combined with December 2013 and January 2014, this is the best three-month period since 2006, according to FTR analysts.
February 2014 net orders were a 27% improvement from the same month in 2013 continuing a string of 13 consecutive months with year-over-year gains. The last six months of Class 8 order activity annualize to 320,500 units.
Don Ake, FTR vice-president of commercial vehicles, says: “Orders were strong for the third consecutive month and in line with expectations with the market now officially in a growth cycle. The confidence in the industry is picking up steam and we expect 2014 to be a healthy year for Class 8 trucks. The current order activity should begin to put pressure on OEM build rates for Q2 to be more in line with the FTR forecast.”
Final data for February will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service.