June orders for Class 8 vehicles soared 93 percent above year-ago figures, reaching their highest level this year

, according to ACT Research Co., an independent source of analysis in the market for trucks and other commercial vehicles.

In the latest release of the State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles, ACT reported 15,999 net orders of Class 8 vehicles in June, a 21 percent rise over May.

Net orders of medium-duty trucks also rebounded in June, with a 74 percent increase over June 2009. On a year-to-date basis, net orders for Class 8 vehicles are up by 50 percent, while Classes 5-7 net orders are up by 26 percent.

"Early second quarter reports from publicly traded truckload carriers confirm the improving freight transportation environment, as revenues and profits are up significantly from 2009," said Steve Tam, vice president with ACT. "Overall orders are still below normal replacement levels, but momentum is building as trucker profitability improves."

ACT publishes new and used commercial vehicle industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the China market.