Medium and Heavy Truck Sales Down 15%

Oct. 14, 2008
Medium and heavy truck sales were down 15% in September and up 2% over the previous month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications

Medium and heavy truck sales were down 15% in September and up 2% over the previous month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.

Dealers sold 34,156 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from September 2007 (40,214) and up from August 2008 (33,578).

Compared with September 2007, Class 8 trucks were up 13%—the only class to show a gain. Class 7 experienced a 26% decline.

Through the first nine months of 2008, truck dealers sold 334,616 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 17% from the corresponding period of 2007.

Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) were even weaker in September versus a year ago, with Class 1 down 33% and Class 2 down 28%. For the year, total sales were down 21%.