While the final numbers
won’t be released until later this month, ACT Research Co., LLC, in Columbus,
Indiana, said the number of Class 8 commercial vehicle orders for December
likely will approach 30,100 units. That brings the total number of class 8
vehicles ordered and/or sold to more than 305,000 for the calendar year,
compared to just over 181,000 for 2010, according to the research firm.
That’s good news for the
industry, as it continues showing strong growth in a flat economy. Part of the
increase in orders was contributed to a tax break that expired on December 31.
It allowed buyers to write off the cost of capital purchases in the calendar
year in which the purchase was made.