Preliminary Classes 5-8 data for January from ACT Research Co. indicate that industry net orders rose to a thirteen-month high in the month, at 45,300 units. That aggregate volume represents a 27% improvement compared to January 2016.

North American Class 8 net orders hit a fourteen-month high at 22,200 units in January, rising above both the prevailing order trend and ACT’s expectations. “This is the time of year when big fleets are in the market scheduling replacement orders for the coming year,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Rising 21% versus a year ago, this is only the second positive year-over-year comparison in 23-months.”

Preliminary, North American Classes 5-7 orders hit an eleven-month high in January, rising 32% year-over-year to 23,000 units. “As the year’s opening stanza is typically one of the weakest in terms of order activity, seasonal adjustment provides a strong boost, pushing the adjusted net order volume to 24,450 units,” said Vieth. “To put that number into context, January’s seasonally adjusted medium-duty net order total was the best monthly reading since February 2008.”