February commercial vehicle demand still favorable

January Class 8 and 5-7 net orders were up 7% and 2% year-over-year respectively. According to ACT Research Co., Class 8 net orders were over 31,100 units in January, with Class 5-7 orders totaling 19,700 net orders. The company stated that February’s Class 8 orders marked the 25th consecutive month of year-over-year gains.

“Although February’s order volume qualifies as the weakest month in the past five, on a seasonally adjusted basis it also represents of ninth consecutive month of orders over 28,000,” Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst, said. Vieth added that the 2015 build schedule is filling rapidly, so “it is unlikely that this string of robust order activity can extend much beyond April/May.”

Talking about medium-duty orders, Vieth said, “After hitting a soft-patch through the middle of 2014, medium-duty orders have been above year-ago results in five of the past six months, even against a tough year-ago February comparison. Strong orders and below expectations build helped to boost the medium duty backlog-to-build ratio to 3.2 months, the highest reading in nearly five years.”

For more information on ACT, please visit www.actresearch.net.

Fontaine Specialized announced the new Magnitude 75 lowbed trailer. This 3+3+2 modular multi-purpose trailer is designed to transport a diverse range of loads, according to Fontaine, who adds that the Magnitude 75 comes in three distinct deck options: flat (MFLD), drop side rail (MDSR), and beam (MBMD)."The Magnitude 75 epitomizes versatility in heavy-haul lowbeds. It accommodates loads of up to 75 tons in 16 feet as a 3+2 or with five close coupled axles," said Heather Gilmer, vice president of sales. "Furthermore, it adeptly handles 70 tons in just 12 feet configured with the tandem axle EQ2 spreader. This adaptable trailer features a hydraulic detachable gooseneck and a tridem axle bogie, each providing seven ride height positions. This enhanced flexibility is invaluable for operators maneuvering heavy loads across obstacles or beneath bridges.”Fontaine says the Magnitude 75 was made with 100,000-lb. minimum yield steel main beam flanges; and the flat and beam decks boast a 24-in. loaded deck height, while the drop side rail deck reduces it to 15-in. At full load, all modular decks offer 6-in. of ground clearance.