According to preliminary numbers from ACT Research, in September, 40,700 Classes 5-8 vehicle orders were booked, up 7% from August but down 8% compared to September 2014.

“The year-over-year decline marked the sixth consecutive negative reading for Classes 5-8 orders,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “While 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, this has become a less compelling piece of evidence, as the spread in the year-over-year backlog has continued to narrow.”

North American net orders equaled 19,600 units in September, down 3% from August and 21% below last September. Vieth explained that orders are typically soft in September and that seasonal adjustment should provide a “healthy boost” to the seasonally adjusted order total.