Class 8 orders topped 40,000 units for a third consecutive month in December at 44,060, and Class 5-7 orders reached their highest monthly volume since 2008 at 22,964 units, reported ACT Research Co. in its latest State of the Industry report.

“For the year, 380,200 net orders were placed, up 42% from 2013, as Class 8 orders have topped expectations for eight consecutive months. The Q4 order volume of 130,900 units constitutes the strongest three-month stretch since a prebuy-inflamed Q1’06 when 140,000 net orders were booked,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst.

According to ACT,  while Class 5-7 orders were not as robust as the recovery experienced by Class 8, the medium-duty market experienced a good 2014 with a strong ending.

“For the full year, Classes 5-7 net order totaled 223,250 units—the best since 2006,” Vieth added. “The order improvement was broad based, with trucks up 15%, buses up 23%, and RVs up 17%. The only negative was step vans, which saw order decline 12%.”