FTR Associates has released its preliminary Class 8 truck sales data for January, showing a 12% drop from December, 2008.

Net orders for all North American OEMs totaled just 7,608 units, the industry analyst announced. That includes Canadian and Mexican figures as well as exports. The industry forecaster says it is the weakest January for North American Class 8 truck sales since the data was first tracked 30 years ago.

The January total was 66% lower than January, 2008. The final numbers will be released by FTR later this month.