Preliminary North America Classes 5-8 net order data from ACT Research show the industry booked 67,700 units in February 2018. February’s volume makes it the third strongest order month since the EPA 2007 prebuy-fueled March 2006 order volume and the fifth best order month of the millennium.

Note that these numbers are preliminary. Complete industry data for February, including final order numbers, will be published in mid-March.

“Despite falling 17% below January’s best-in-12-years order intake, February’s industry order volume still makes it into the pantheon of all-time great months, with both the MD and HD markets contributing generously to the final order tally,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “On a seasonally adjusted basis, net orders rose 42% [year-over-year] to 63,000 units – also the fifth best all-time reading.”

After an uninspired rate of order placement in Q4/17, MD Classes 5-7 orders have come on strong at the start of 2018.

“In February, Classes 5-7 orders fell 15% from January to a still-strong 26,700 units – the second-best month since July 2006 and the third best month on record,” said Vieth.

About Class 8 orders, Vieth commented, “Robust Class 8 order placements continued in February. For the month, Class 8 orders totaled 40,600 units – the eighth best order month on record and the ninth time in history in which orders eclipsed the 40,000-unit mark. Seasonal adjustment reduces the month’s order largess to 37,600 units, up 63% compared to last February’s order intake.”