Class 8 January Y/Y Truck Sales Up 50%; Orders Decline

Trade journal Truckinginfo said, citing data from Ward’s Communications, January U.S. Class 8 retail truck sales of 14,119 were up by more than 50% from last year’s 9,236.

The heavy-duty trucking magazine said Daimler Trucks North America had the largest Class 8 market share at 34% with PACCAR a close second with a 29% share. International’s share was 24% followed by Volvo at 14%.

In a related story, FTR Associates said preliminary Class 8 truck orders in January were down 17% sequentially and 9% lower than January 2011. John Starks, FTR’s director of transportation analysis said, “January’s orders were firmly within our expectations.” Starks added, “We continue to expect strong order activity as we finish the first quarter in preparation for the modestly robust freight environment that we anticipate for 2012.”