Truck sales in all eight classes were down by a smaller percentage in August than for the year to date, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Among trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, the biggest difference came in Class 5, with sales up 7% compared to July but down 48% for the year compared to 2008.
Medium and heavy truck sales were down 35% in August over the same period a year ago and down 6% over the previous month.
Dealers sold 21,956 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from August 2008 (33,578) and from July 2009 (23,414). Year to date, sales were down 36%.
Compared with August 2008, Class 8 trucks were down 33%. Class 6 experienced a 44% decline.
Through the first eight months of 2009, truck dealers sold 192,492 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 36% from the corresponding period of 2008.
Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) improved over July: Class 1 was up 25% and Class 2 up 12%. For the year, total sales were down 29%.