COLUMBUS, IN – Preliminary NA Classes 5-8 net orders were 53,000 units in November, up 44 percent year over year, and slightly down from October’s order surge.

“Continued Class 8 order strength in November and in-line medium duty orders added up to a second consecutive month of ‘best-since’ order activity,” said Kenny Vieth, President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research. “Seasonally adjusted, orders rose 2.8 percent from October to 50,300 units, marking November as the best month for NA Classes 5-8 orders since February 2015.”

Note that these numbers are preliminary; complete industry data for November, to include final order results, will be available mid-December in ACT’s State of the Industry: NA Classes 5-8 Vehicles report.

Preliminary NA Class 8 net orders remained elevated in November, with 32,900 units added to the books. Despite being the second-best order month since January 2015, November’s orders fell 8.7 percent from October.

“Historically, November is the third best order month of the year,” noted Vieth. “As such, seasonal adjustment lowers the month’s intake to 30,000 units, down 4.7 percent from October.”

Preliminary data indicate that Classes 5-7 net orders inched higher from October, rising to 20,100 units. At +15 percent, November’s order volume generated the best year-over-year performance in six-months.

“Seasonal adjustment, which was a drag in October, turned incrementally positive in November,” said Vieth. "When adjusted, the medium duty net order volume rises to 20,400 units, up 16 percent sequentially and 17 percent year over year.”

ACT is the recognized leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the China CV market. ACT’s CV services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as the banking and investment community.