October truck sales surge nearly 63%

Nov. 14, 2011
WardsAuto said that sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. jumped 62.8% in October, representing the largest single month gain this year. Class 8 deliveries alone jumped 107.6%, WardsAuto reported

WardsAuto said that sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. jumped 62.8% in October, representing the largest single month gain this year. Class 8 deliveries alone jumped 107.6%, WardsAuto reported.

Nearly every manufacturer in Class 8 posted huge gains, led by International’s 184.8% increase. Daimler and Paccar posted 87.1% and 109.9% increases. The lowest Class 8 sales increase belonged to Western Star, but even that OEM posted a 42.4% increase.

(See WardsAuto data on U.S. sales by weight and class)

Medium-duty truck sales also posted strong gains, increasing 23% in the month. UD Trucks led a rise in imported units with a 33.5% jump in Class 7. Overall, imports increased 25.5%, WardsAuto reported.

Peterbilt saw a 101% year-over-year increase in Class 7.

In Class 6, sales jumped 59.7%, led by Freightliner, Hino and International, all of which posted triple-digit increases. Hino’s sales climbed 138%.

Mitsubishi Fuso posted a 140.1% increase, leading a 28.4% overall jump in Class 5 sales.

In Class 4, Freightliner’s deliveries jumped 580%. The segment, overall, rose 32.4% across all brands.

Canadian truck sales also increased in October, rising for the 20th straight month, WardsAuto said. Sales increased 38.5% in Classes 4-8, with Class 8 up 37% and Class 7 increasing 54.7%.

(For a closer look at the Canadian numbers, click here)

Sales in Class 6 increased 32% and Class 5 posted a 53.4% increase. Class 4 showed the weakest increase, rising just 2.2%, WardsAuto reported.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Uniting for Bold Solutions to Tackle Transportation’s Biggest Challenges

Over 300 leaders in transportation, logistics, and distribution gathered at Ignite 2024. From new products to innovative solutions, Ignite highlighted the importance of strong...

Seasonal Strategies for Maintaining a Safe & Efficient Fleet Year-Round

Prepare your fleet for every season! From winterizing vehicles to summer heat safety, our eBook covers essential strategies for year-round fleet safety. Download now to reduce...

Streamline Compliance, Ensure Safety and Maximize Driver's Time

Truck weight isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering operational efficiency, hours-of-service regulations, and safety ratings, but it can affect all three.

Improve Safety and Reduce Risk with Data from Route Scores

Route Scores help fleets navigate the risk factors they encounter in the lanes they travel, helping to keep costs down.