FTR Reports Preliminary Class 8 Orders Continue Slowdown in April

Nashville, IN (May 3, 2012) FTR Associates has released preliminary data showing April Class 8 truck total net orders at 16,877 units, the lowest number since September 2010 and 55% below the same month a year ago. Preliminary order numbers are for all major North American OEM’s. April orders continue the downward trend in Class 8 orders for 2012, with annualized units for the past three months now at 234,600.

Eric Starks, FTR’s President, commented “A four month trend is certainly significant and it is causing many in the industry to question their assumptions of growth for 2012. Now that we are through the typical ordering season we expect orders to remain in the sub-20k level through the summer months. If the truck OEMs don’t scale back their build plans for the second half of the year then we are likely to see a more significant payback once we get into 2013.”

Final data for April will be available from FTR later in the month as part of its North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook service. Contact FTR Associates at ftr@ftrassociates.com or 1-888-988-1699 ext 1 for more details.

FTR Associates, located in Nashville, IN has been a leader in transportation forecasting for over 20 years. The company’s U.S. Freight Model collects and analyzes all data likely to impact freight movement and is based on specific characteristics for over 200 commodity groups. FTR Associates’ forecast reports cover trucking and rail transportation and include demand analysis for commercial vehicle as well as railcar. Specially designed reports are offered to participants in both industries to cover specific needs. For more information about the work of FTR Associates, visit www.ftrassociates.com or call Helen Lile at 888-988-1699 Ext. 45.