New orders for Class 8 trucks in February increased 30% from the same time a year earlier while Classes 5-7 gained 18%, according to updated numbers from commercial vehicle industry data publisher ACT Research.


The change in heavy-duty order velocity that began in October continued into February,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT Research. “Despite falling below the previous two months, February’s order intake was the fifth best since the second quarter of 2006, leading to a two-year high backlog.”

Vieth said that medium-duty truck demand also continues strong and that February was the best order month in six years. “Classes 5-7 net orders rose to their third highest volume this cycle,” he said.