Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks rose 37% in September. Meanwhile, at the same time, orders of medium-duty trucks moved in the opposite direction.
"The level of (Class 8) orders is a continuation of the steady increase in demand we have seen building since early this year," says Kenny Vieth, analyst with ACT Research, which tracks trucking industry trends and data.
However, during September, medium-duty orders fell 27% from September 2009 levels. "A fall-off in school bus orders was the primary driver" behind the decline, says Vieth.
