Classes 5-7 net orders rose to a four-month high of 18,012, while Class 8 orders continued in above-expectations mode in August. Total net orders were 25,363 units. These results were published in the latest State of the Industry report, recently released by ACT Research Co. (ACT). The report covers Classes 5-8 vehicles for the North American market.

According to Kenny Vieth, ACT's president and senior analyst, compared to August 2013, Class 5-7 truck orders were up 15 percent and RVs were up 8 percent, while buses were down 20 percent. “Orders and backlogs are trending sideways, and production has remained fairly steady,” he said.

“Through the middle of the third quarter, conditions remained favorable for continued healthy commercial vehicle demand," Vieth noted. “Following one of the best order months cycle-to-date, August’s Class 8 orders were 16-percent below July, but were up 30 percent compared to last year. Through year-to-date August, Class 8 orders have been booked at a 336,600 unit annual rate."