Factory orders rose 0.2% in December, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
The increase followed a 1.3% increase in November that was greater than originally reported.
Economists had forecast a 0.5% decline for December, Bloomberg reported.
Durable goods orders, which make up just over half of all orders, dropped 2.3%.
Capital goods orders including computers but excluding aircraft and military orders rose 1.9%.
The trucking industry relies on factory orders and shipments for much of its business.
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