July class 8 orders fell slightly below 17,600 units, reported ACT Research. That's down 7 percent month-over-month, but up 36 percent compared to July 2012, ACT said.
Medium duty orders also fell 4 percent month-over-month to 14,970 units.
Historically, the third quarter is the weakest order period and July is the weakest month, ACT pointed out.
Still, though, new orders continue to come from truckers who have a genuine need for near-term deliveries, said Kenny Vieth, ACT's president and senior analyst. "As such, cancellation activity remained at extremely low levels again in July," he added.
Vieth added that 2013 looks to end on a high note. Trucker profit margins were at their highest level since Q4'05 in the second quarter, he noted, and that "hints at a strong finish to 2013."
