According to ACT Research, preliminary North America Class 8 net order data shows the industry booked 42,800 units in September, falling moderately after back-to-back record order months.

Complete industry data for September, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT in mid-October.

“Preliminary data indicate that in September, NA Class 8 orders were down 19% from August, but up 90% compared to year-ago September,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “Through year-to-date September, Class 8 orders have totaled 397,200 units, an average monthly order intake of 44,100 units/month. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the past three months’ orders represent the three strongest order months in history, with the past three months’ Class 8 orders climbing to 711,000 units SAAR. Reaching back to June, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the past four months are four of the five strongest in history.”

About medium duty orders, Vieth commented, “Trendy medium duty order activity continued in September, with orders rising to a four-month high. September’s preliminary NA Classes 5-7 net orders rose to 24,800 units, and over the past twelve months, orders have averaged 24,500 units/month.”