Prelim data: Almost 20% jump in Class 8 orders

While full data for August won’t be available until later this month, preliminary numbers reported by FTR Associates indicate Class 8 truck orders for the month had their strongest showing since November 2008.

The numbers for all major North American OEMs totaled 10,758 units in August-- up 19.9% from July.

The annualized rate would be 129,096.

“FTR is cautiously optimistic about the increased August preliminary Class 8 net orders; we believe some of the orders being placed are in response to 2010 EPA emissions requirements,” said Eric Starks, president of FTR. “We still expect any recovery in the transportation industry to be slow and bumpy through next year.”

The increase is the third consecutive month of improvement. July numbers increased 9.6% over June and June was up 9.7% over May, FTR reported.