FTR has released preliminary data showing April 2014 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 24,115, 11% below March results. While orders tempered in April 2014 from the torrid pace set in the previous four months, they were 5% above a year ago, continuing the year-over-year positive comparisons for a fifteenth consecutive month. Class 8 orders over the last six months have seen activity reach 334,000 units on an annualized rate. OEM’s are expected to continue to raise build rates to meet the demand.

Don Ake, FTR Vice president of commercial vehicles, commented “April orders generally met our expectations and are in line with our forecast. Class 8 order activity was bound to fall back some from the velocity of the past four months. With orders up almost 28% year to date, the industry is on track for a great year.”

Final data for April will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service.