Retail truck sales held steady in September, according to figures compiled by Wards Auto Group, a division of Penton Media.
Dealers sold 47,232 trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings above 10,000 pounds, up 4% from September 2012. Class 4 trucks led the way with a 21% sales increase. Sales of Class 6 trucks were also strong, up 17% from a year ago.
With the first three quarters of the year now in the record books, sales were running 5% ahead of last year’s levels. Through the first nine months of 2013, dealers sold 439,767 trucks rated above 10,000 pounds GVW. Classes 6, 3, and 4 were posting the strongest sales—up 20%, 16%, and 11%, respectively.
The market for heavy-duty trucks, however, was down slightly. Class 7 trucks (GVW ratings of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds) were down 2% through the first nine months of 2013, and Class 8 trucks were off 10%.
Light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) were steady. Class 1 trucks finished 5% below year-ago levels but were still up 9% for the first nine months of 2013. Class 2 trucks edged up 2% from September 2012 and were 17% above year-earlier levels.