Orders for heavy duty commercial vehicles are coming in "as anticipated," according to FTR Associates, a transportation forecasting firm. As a result, the company's 2009 forecast, which calls for a decline of nearly 47% in Class 8 truck production, "remains unchanged."
FTR believes that "a slow recovery" in Class 8 truck production will begin next year, though projections for 2010 will still be 30% below 2008 levels.
"While the near-term picture is becoming clearer every day, there is an unusual amount of uncertainty with regard to 2011 and beyond," says FTR President Eric Starks. "We are in an unprecedented economic situation where past performance does not necessarily provide relavant guideposts.
"The range of possible outcomes is still very wide," he continues, "with either a continued slow recovery or a faster snap-back both quite possible."
