According to preliminary data from ACT Research, 39,500 Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked in February. Class 8 garnered 17,900 orders and Classes 5-7 registered 21,600 orders booked.

Act noted that these numbers are preliminary. Actual numbers will be published in mid-March.

“Orders for commercial vehicles in February largely mirrored the ongoing U.S. economic narrative,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Healthy consumer-related indicators, such as disposable income, autos and houses, continue to support positive medium-duty demand. At the same time, ongoing weakness in the freight-rich manufacturing sector continues to weigh on heavy-duty demand.

“February’s Class 8 orders fell 43% year-over-year against a tough February 2015 comparison. Class 8 orders were in line with January, however, down just 2% in a shorter and seasonally weaker order month,” said Vieth.