FTR Associates released preliminary data showing February Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs at 7,628 units, 19.7 percent higher than January when orders were the lowest since 2002. While February compared positively to the previous month as well as to February 2009, orders remained significantly below 2009 average of 10,064 units. The figure includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and exports.
“The February numbers were what we expected,” says Eric Starks, FTR president. “Our forecast models continue to predict slow recovery in new Class 8 orders impacted by 2010 EPA emissions regulations and the large inventory of useable vehicles in the market. We don’t expect a good bounce in Class 8 demand until 2011.”
