Sales of Class 8 heavy trucks have smashed through last year's mark and threaten to break a 1995 high.
Last month, U.S. sales of Class 8 trucks rose 32.5 percent from year-ago levels. Through the first 11 months of the year, Class 8 sales totaled 189,108, up 18.3 percent. That is already ahead of the 178,551 Class 8 trucks sold in 1997 and on pace to pass a 1995 mark of 201,304. That is the highest total since at least 1968, according to American Automobile Manufacturers Association figures.
All of the major Class 8 producers showed solid gains in November. Among them: Freight-liner, up 59.4 percent; Kenworth, up 56.6 percent; Volvo, up 37.3 percent; and Mack, up 32.3 percent.
In November, sales of medium-and heavy-duty trucks totaled 35,330 units, up 24.9 percent from November 1997. For the year to date, total medium- and heavy-duty truck sales are up 12.9 percent.
For all classes of trucks, including light pickups, total sales in November were 614,350 units, an increase of 5.3 percent. Through November, total U.S. truck sales were up 7.9 percent.
