Medium and heavy truck sales were down 17% in March and up 8% over the previous month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Dealers sold 41,462 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from March 2007 (50,040) and up from February 2008 (38,500).
Compared to March 2007, Class 8 trucks were down 35%. Class 7 experienced the biggest decline at 40%.
Through the first three months of 2008, truck dealers sold 117,295 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 15% from the corresponding period of 2007.
Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) were even weaker in March, compared to a year ago, with Class 4 down 28% and Class 2 down 26%. For the year, total sales were down 14%.