Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles rose to 11,285 units in March, up 28% from March 2009, according to ACT Research, which tracks truck and commercial vehicle trends.
While current month and year-to-date Class 8 orders "are strong, they come off a very weak 2009 period," say ACT officials. "The combination of the introduction of higher-priced new engine technology and a weak used truck market continue to restrain demand for new commercial vehicles."
That said, "an improving economy is shrinking the excess hauling capacity in the trucking sector, which will lead to improving profits and the need to replace an aging fleet."
