COLUMBUS, IN – North American truckers ordered 45,795 trucks in October, the second highest number of orders ever recorded in a single month, according to the latest FTR report. October orders were 87 percent higher than last month and 76 percent higher than the same time last year.

“The huge amount of orders was driven by several very large fleets placing orders to be built throughout 2015,” said Don Ake, vice president of commercial vehicles at FTR. “This is the result of the industry operating near full capacity and fleets having confidence that freight growth will remain strong for the entire year in 2015.”

Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT, added: “Class 8 net orders in October represent the convergence of a number of trends that continue to drive healthy order activity.Those trends include pent-up demand amongst small and medium fleets, superior new truck fuel economy, improved economic activity in key freight sectors and most importantly, rising freight rates and fleet profitability.”

ACT research reported that October Class 5-7 truck orders have had the strongest 12-month period since January 2007. Class 8 orders for the last six months stand at 354,000 units, a major increase from the previous six.

Combined, Class 5-8 orders are up 50 percent from a year ago, though medium-duty trucks have seen a more sublte rise, with 21,700 units ordered in October. This represents a 14-percent rise when compared to October 2013.

“On a seasonally adjusted basis, October’s orders are slightly lower than actual at 19,400 units, but are the best month since April,” Vieth said.