August Classes 5-8 Orders Record 5th Consecutive Drop

For the month of August, 37,200 Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked, down 8% from July and down 14% compared to August 2014 on a preliminary basis.

“The year-over-year decline marked the fifth consecutive negative reading for Classes 5-8 orders,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “However, we continue to believe that much of the order decline is a reflection of larger backlogs and tough comps, rather than any substantive change in demand.”

“Class 8 orders,” added Vieth, “were 19,700 units, 20% below July orders and 22% below August 2014. Because August is typically the second weakest order month of the year, seasonal adjustment raises the month’s volume to 22,600 units. North American Classes 5-7 vehicle orders rebounded in August to 17,500 units.”

“This result,” he concluded, “was up 10% from July, but down 3% compared to last August. Historically, August is an above average order month for medium-duty vehicles, so seasonal adjustment actually reduces August’s medium-duty order volume to 17,200 units.”

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