COLUMBUS, IN – Orders for Class 8 trucks reached a 13-month high as this year opened, thanks largely to higher demand for vocational equipment, ACT Research reports.

“Stronger orders, coupled with modest build, allowed backlogs to rise 7,600 units from December to 99,600 units,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst. Net heavy-duty truck orders reached 22,188 units in January, suggesting that the second and third quarters of 2016 marked the bottom of the current downturn, the analysts note.

“Orders for vocational equipment rose to a two-year high 8,500 units, or 38.5% of the month’s intake,” said Vieth.

Medium duty orders hit a six-month high of 22,744 units, up 3% month-over-month, and 31% year-over-year.

“The improvement was broad-based, with truck, bus and RV orders all posting y/y and m/m gains. Seasonal adjustment lifts [medium-duty] orders in January, boosting the total to 24,100 units,” Vieth noted. “On that basis, January was the best month for [medium-duty] orders since February 2008.”