Feb 22, 2011 5:06 PM

A preliminary reading of heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles net orders for North American markets rose to 27,300 units in January 2011, according to ACT Research Co. The January order volume represents an increase of 320% compared with January 2010. Preliminary net order numbers are subject to revision and are typically accurate to within 5% plus or minus.

“The industry began 2011 where 2010 left off: After ending 2010 with three strong order months, the trend continued into January. Over the past three months, Class 8 orders have been booked at an annualized rate of 320,000 units,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst. “The uptick in orders continues to restock industry backlogs, setting the stage for significant production increases as we move through 2011.”