A preliminary reading of heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles net orders for North American markets totaled 24,300 units in February, according to ACT Research Co.


ACT analysts say that even though the February order volume is down 3,000 units from January, it maintains the strength of the NA Class 8 market that has been demonstrated the past four months. This time period annualized represents an order flow of over 272,200 units. (Preliminary net order numbers are subject to revision and are typically accurate to within +/-5 percent.)

"The industry is continuing in 2011 where it left off in 2010," said Steve Tam, vice president, commercial vehicle sector for ACT. "The strength in orders continues to restock industry backlogs and fuel increasing build as the industry moves through the year."

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