Medium and heavy truck sales in September increased in all but one class compared to August, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Among trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, only Class 5 (down 6%) showed a decline. Class 3 led the way with a 45% increase, followed by Class 6 (31%). Overall, medium and heavy truck sales were up 23% over August.
Medium and heavy truck sales were down 21% in September over the same period a year ago.
Dealers sold 26,914 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from September 2008 (34,156) and up from August 2009 (21,956). Year to date, sales were down 34%. Through the first nine months of 2009, truck dealers sold 219,406 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds.
Compared with September 2008, Class 8 trucks were down 29%. Class 4 experienced the largest decline (45%), followed by Class 6 (30%).
Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) were down over August: Class 1 by 42% and Class 2 by 22%. For the year, total sales were down 29%.