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In November, Class 8 truck net orders for all major North American original equipment manufacturers reached 26,005 units, a 38 percent increase compared with October's level and the highest monthly total since May 2006, according to preliminary FTR Associates data. Orders rose on a month-over-month basis for the fourth consecutive time.

“We were expecting a normal seasonal increase in orders to a level between 22,000 and 25,000 units. The November number came in slightly above those expectations,” said FTR President Eric Starks in a prepared statement. “It is clear that we are in a recovery period for the new truck equipment market. However, we still harbor concerns regarding the durability of the current surge.”

Leasing companies and large fleets drove the orders, but smaller and medium-size fleets are not participating “at the levels we would normally expect during a recovery,” he said.

“Until we see this group jumping back into the market we will continue to be optimistic, but with a degree of caution,” said Starks. “The recent numbers have not changed our view on the direction of the new equipment market for 2011.”