According to the latest results from ACT Research, Class 8 orders in April dropped 16% month-over-month and 39% year-over-year, to a total of 13,676 units. Medium duty net orders totaled 20,880 units, down 7% month-over-month but up 16% from April 2015.

“For Class 8, U.S. tractors and the Canada market continue to represent the weakest market segments, while orders from Mexico remained the brightest spot,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst “Cancellations dropped to a 23-month low, however. April was the third consecutive month in which cancellations and the cancellation rate declined,” he added.

Vieth said that strong order activity continued across the medium duty Classes 5-7 market in April. “Stronger build than orders in April reduced backlogs, but despite the healthy order trend, backlogs continue hand-to-mouth.”