FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing June Class 8 truck net orders at 18,606, 18% less than May and the first month orders have been below 20,000 since November 2012. 

However, comparisons to 2012 show current June order activity 14% above a year ago and year-to-date orders annualizing to 261,300 compared to total 2012 orders of 224,600 units.  

Jonathan Starks, FTR’s director of transportation analysis, commented: “Orders were slightly below the general expectations but a decline was not surprising given the typical summer slowdown in orders. One month of a small drop in orders is not enough to have a substantial impact on our production forecast for 2013. HOS has begun but is unlikely to impact order activity (either up or down) for several months - for now it is business as usual."