Medium and heavy truck sales were down 5% in March over the same period a year ago and up 16% from the previous month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Dealers sold 49,206 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from March 2012 (51,734) and up from February 2013 (42,331).
Compared with March 2012, Class 8 trucks were down 24% (13,101, compared to 17,308). Class 7 sales were 3,375, down 27% from the 4,611 sold.
For the year, truck dealers have sold 132,530 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 1% from 133,311 in 2012. Class 8 sales have been 38,805, a 17% decrease from the same period last year (46,845). Class 7 sales have been down 10% (10,532, compared to 11,685). Total sales of all classes have been up 9%, from 1,734,312 to 1,892,091.
Other than Class 7 and 8, every class has been up, except for Class 5 (down 3%). The biggest increase has been in Class 4 (17%).