Trailerbodybuilders 496 Dsc0075 Copy
Trailerbodybuilders 496 Dsc0075 Copy
Trailerbodybuilders 496 Dsc0075 Copy
Trailerbodybuilders 496 Dsc0075 Copy
Trailerbodybuilders 496 Dsc0075 Copy

Commercial truck sales up 4% in September

Oct. 14, 2013

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.