Off pattern: September Class 8 truck orders align to supply shortage

Class 8 truck orders typically rise in September as manufacturers open their order books. That is not happening this year.

The combination of the semiconductor shortage and shortfalls in as many as 40 other parts needed to assemble heavy-duty trucks led manufacturers to write far fewer orders in September than the typical first month of fall.

Demand for new trucks is high. Freight rates continue to be elevated. But manufacturers cannot keep up. Even trucks they assemble are being parked awaiting parts, a process called red-tagging. Paccar Inc. said late Monday Q3 deliveries of its Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF Trucks will fall 7,000 units short of the previous quarter.

“It is important to note that it is not demand, but supply that is dictating new order activity, as OEMs are being judicious in fully opening 2022 order books when there is not clear visibility of supply-chain capacity next year,” said Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT Research.

Preliminary North American Class 8 orders in September were 27,400 units, down from 36,900 bookings in August,

“September traditionally marks the transition from the annual summer order trough into fall peak order activity,” Vieth said.

“However, with demand indicators from freight activity to freight rates and carrier profits in blatant contrast to equipment shortages and capacity constraints across all transportation modes, it is understandable that September’s Classes 5-8 order volume could be construed as disappointing relative to the economic setup.”

Another factor suggesting an extended lull is recent reports of energy sector issues in China which, Vieth said, “dampen hope for the current supply situation to surprise on the high side in terms of recovery timing.”

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