Class 8 sales up vs. last year, down vs. last month

Dec. 13, 2002
Class 8 sales were down 22.3% in November compared to the previous month, which is in line with predictions that sales of trucks with '02-compliant engines
Class 8 sales were down 22.3% in November compared to the previous month, which is in line with predictions that sales of trucks with '02-compliant engines would drop. However, November sales were 17.7% higher than they were the previous year, which shows that the slump predicted by analysts may not be as catastrophic to the industry.According to information compiled by Ward's Communications, 11,659 Class 8 trucks were sold in November, and 15,010 were sold the previous month. No Class 8 manufacturer sold more trucks in November than October, though Freightliner (-1.7%), Sterling (-3.7%) and Peterbilt (-6.2%) each saw a drop of less than 10% in sales. Ward's data shows that the 4,261 Class 8 trcuss Freightliner sold in November was 31% more than it sold in the same month last year. Sterling (45.4%), Peterbilt (40.9%), International (29.6%) and Kenworth (6%) also sold more trucks in November 2002 that they did in November 2001.