Heavy-Truck Orders Plunge 27% in U.S.

Orders for large commercial trucks plummeted 27% to a seven-year low of 13,800 units in September, The Wall Street Journal reports.

September is traditionally a weak month for truck sales, and some analysts expect an uptick this month. But others caution that tepid growth in freight volume and the relatively low age of fleets are likely to dampen demand well into next year.

The Journal cites an analyst at Stifel Financial Corp. who predicts truckmakers will build 230,000 heavy-duty vehicles this year—a 29% decline from 2015—and only 200,000 in 2017—before reviving in 2018.