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Here’s a sign that the North American transportation industry might be gaining a stronger pulse. In August, net heavy truck orders for all major North American original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) totaled 10,758 units, the highest monthly showing since November 2008, according to preliminary data released by transportation forecasting firm FTR Associates.

The net figure includes Class 8 truck orders for OEMs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as exports. Order activity for August, which increased 19.9 percent from July’s level, represents an annualized rate of 129,096 units, according to FTR. The firm plans to release final August data later this month as part of its “North American Commercial Truck & Trailer Outlook” report.

“We’re cautiously optimistic about the increased August preliminary Class 8 net orders. However we believe some of the orders being placed are in response to 2010 EPA emissions requirements,” said FTR President Eric Starks in a prepared statement. “We still expect any recovery in the transportation industry to be slow and bumpy through next year.”