BLOOMINGTON, IN. — Class 8 preliminary truck net orders rose 7 percent over December, FTR Associates reported today.

Year-over-year, however, orders are down 11 percent, FTR noted, before adding that the past four months truck orders were above the 20,000 mark, showing strength after the soft period during the middle of 2012.

“We’ve been forecasting a weak start to 2013 and the numbers we’re now seeing, while improving, are still below where they should be for a solid recovery,” said Eric Starks, president of FTR.

“Washington has resolved part of the looming fiscal cliff crisis in the short term and business investment picked up in the fourth quarter, which is a good sign that businesses are willing to spend money. Hopefully, more fleets will take these as positive signs to now go ahead and place some orders for equipment that they need.”