August preliminary North America Class 8 net orders were 16,400 units, up month over month but down 16% year over year, according to ACT Research. Complete industry data for August, including final order numbers, will be published mid-September.

“Class 8 orders remained at directionally and seasonally expected levels in August. Historically, August is the last month of weak orders before the OEMs open their books to next year’s orders. As such, the month enjoys a large seasonal factor that boosts Class 8 orders nearly 12% above nominal levels to 18,600 units,” Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst of ACT Research, said. “Preliminary Classes 5-7 orders improved from July, rising 1,200 units M/M to 17,300 units in August. While up M/M, MD net orders fell 16% Y/Y. Historically, August is the beginning of stronger orders for Classes 5-7 vehicles as school bus order season gets underway.”

“In aggregate, August NA Classes 5-8 net orders were generally in line with moderating expectations,” Vieth said. “The drivers of those expectations are unchanged: for the Class 8 market, overcapacity in the U.S. tractor market leading to generational lows in for-hire carrier profits and a continued lack of traction in freight rates are a primary concern. For the MD market, the focus is on increasingly overextended U.S. consumers, the impact of high interest rates on discretionary spending, and extremely weak RV demand.”