February 2017 was yet another strong month for truck sales, according to preliminary numbers from both FTR and ACT Research.

ACT’s preliminary numbers had February Class 8 orders hitting a 14-month high at 23,200 units, a second consecutive month of orders rising above both trend and ACT’s expectations.

“Orders rose 28% versus year-ago February. That gain was only the third positive year-over-year comparison in the past two years,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Weak orders in 2016 and an improving economy should make positive year to year comparisons a monthly occurrence as we move through 2017.”

As for Classes 5-7, ACT’s numbers had them nearly flat with January at 22,700 units (versus 22,744 in January).

“While actual orders were in line, seasonal adjustment provides a drag in February versus a boost in January,” noted Vieth. “When seasonally adjusted, the net order volume drops to 21,450 units, down 11% compared to the seasonally adjusted January volume.”

FTR had preliminary Class 8 net orders for February at 22,900 units, up 5% month-over-month and 28% year-over-year. The steady order trend has now pushed backlogs to over 100,000 units for the first time since June 2016. February’s solid order activity continued the trend that began in November, with market momentum picking up speed at a measured pace. The current order volumes should enable production to hit or exceed Q2 forecasts. Class 8 orders for the past three months now annualize to 263,000 units.

“February was another very encouraging month for Class 8 truck orders,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “Orders have increased for four straight months, indicating the market is making a solid recovery after the second-half slump in 2016. This order cycle is much flatter and longer than usual, but this is a healthy order total for a February. March orders may not decline that much. This is what a turning point looks like.”