August U.S. Class 8 Sales Best in Six Years

The Trucker is reporting, according to data provided by Ward’s Automotive, that heavy-duty new truck sales have recorded the best August in six years. Class 8 sales totaled 16,497 trucks in the U.S., up 9.4% from August last year.

The trade publication said the improvement was the 32nd consecutive, although the rate of improvement has slowed. The year-to-date gain, at 32.1%, compared to the first eight months of 2011. Compared to the same period in 2009, the total is 127% higher, but still trails the 2006 peak. The Trucker notes that truck makers still are 29% behind the boom times.

Freightliner led the Class 8 field, reporting a 9.4% gain over July and a 31.2% improvement from the year before, the Trucker said, noting that August was Freightliner’s best month since January 2007.

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