Medium and heavy truck sales were up 27% in March over the same period a year ago and up 29% for the first quarter compared to 2010, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Dealers sold 42,188 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, up from March 2010 (33,155). They also sold 103,962 in the first quarter, up from the first three months of 2010 (80,532).
Compared with March 2010, Class 8 trucks were up 44% (13,010, compared to 9,025). Class 5 sales were 3,807, up 87% from the 2,034 sold.
For the year, Class 8 sales have been 31,958, a 34% increase from the same period last year (23,839). Class 7 sales have been up 6% (10,250, compared to 9,708). Total sales of all classes have been up 25%, from 1,287,762 to 1,606,407.
Every class has been up, except for Class 4 (down 58%). The biggest increase has been in Class 5 (69%).