Class 8 new and net orders rose to six month highs in October, to 29,824 and 28,026 units, respectively. This order flow suggests that 2011 will end strong with production at or above 250,000 units and also sets the stage for a robust 2012. This updated status of the North America commercial vehicle market was included in the State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Class 5 through 8 vehicles for the North American market.

“News from carriers is good,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT. “Expectations for future freight and profitability are upbeat. Coupling truckers’ positive outlook into 2012 and the better than consensus economic news supports demand levels that we are seeing in the Class 8 market,” he added.

ACT is the leading publisher of new and used commercial vehicle (CV) industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor trailer market and the China CV market. ACT’s CV services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, and worldwide banking and investment companies.