FTR has released preliminary data showing that January 2016 North American Class 8 truck net orders slipping back to 18,062 units, down 35% month-over-month and 48% year-over-year. Net Class 8 orders for five of the last eight months were below 20,000 with a monthly average for the period of 21,200 units. Since September order activity has been unusually volatile with the minimum monthly swing more than 6,500 units. January Class 8 order annualized to 217,000 units. The downturn has FTR pessimistic about 2016 as of now.

“It is not looking to be a strong year,” said FTR Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Starks. “However, the fundamentals for freight and demand for truck services should hold up well enough to keep the market at replacement levels. In order to see that occur we would expect to see orders improve as we get into the spring months and fleets finalize their plans for 2016 expenditures.”

Final data for January will be available from FTR later in the month at their website.