In The News

Class 8 truck sales rise in October

Sales of Class 8 trucks last month reached the highest total since May 2007 and topped the 12,000 mark for the first time this year.

According to figures provided to The Trucker by Ward’s Automotive, October Class 8 sales totaled 12,073 trucks in the United States, compared to 10,891 in September, a month-to-month increase of 10.9 percent. Compared to sales of 11,769 in October 2007, the improvement is 2.6 percent— the fifth consecutive improvement over the same month the year before.

Still, for the year so far, the industry has sold only 110,128 trucks, trailing 2007’s ten-month total (128,622 trucks) by 14.4 percent.

More strikingly, compared to 2006 record sales, the total is down more than 125,000 trucks so far, a 53 percent slide. Projecting a full 12 months would leave this year at just over 132,000 trucks versus 284,008 two years ago. In 2001, the bottom of the previous industry downturn, there were 139, 576 trucks sold (118,272 through October).

In a brand-by-brand look at the most recent Ward’s data, Navistar’s International brand grabbed the top spot for the month in this year’s back-and-forth contest with Daimler Trucks North America’s Freightliner, selling 3,671 trucks versus 2,966.

International’s October sales surged 28.1 percent compared to the year before, and jumped 40.3 percent compared to September. Freightliner’s total improved 23.8 percent compared to the same month in 2007, and its sales improved 6.7 over the September mark.

Of the other OEMs, only Peterbilt bettered last year’s total for the month — by one truck — on 1,533 trucks sold.

Month-to-month numbers, it should be noted, can vary greatly — especially between quarters or from year’s end — depending on an OEM’s sales incentives and reporting procedures.

Through the first 10 months of 2008, only International has shown improvement compared to 2007, selling 26,478 trucks (up 7.1 percent). The other nameplates show double-digit declines.

For the year so far, Freightliner still holds its market share lead with 25.4 percent (27, 932 units sold), with International at 24 percent. The sales pie also shows Peterbilt with a 13.1 percent slice (14,438 units), followed by PACCAR sibling Kenworth (12 percent, 13,263 units).

International continues to be the big gainer in market share this year, improving 483 basis points.

For additional Class 8 industry news and comment, please read the Dec. 1 print edition of The Trucker.