Class 8 Orders Maintain Robust Pace

Amid continued robust sales of Class 8 trucks in February, another banner year is predicted for truck makers.

Class 8 manufacturers reported preliminary sales for the month reached 18,384 vehicles — almost 27% above the 14,489 sold in the second month of 1998. In January, they sold more than 16,000 vehicles.

So far this year, the sales pace of 34,605 vehicles over the two-month period is about 25% ahead of the 1998 figure.

Sales of other classes of trucks also contributed to the optimism within the industry.

Vehicles in Class 3 through 8 had sales of 48,282, up 39.4% from February 1998. The two-month total for trucks of all classes was 89,151, up 34.2%.

With the exception of one company, the major truck manufacturers in the United States had increased Class 8 sales compared with the same period in 1998.

The only decrease was shown by Ford, which for all practical purposes has left the business with the sale of its heavy-truck division to Freightliner last fall. It sold 13 Class 8 trucks in February, for a total of 29 in the first two months.

Manufacturers and analysts alike continue to predict high sales figures for 1999.

Chris Brady, chief economist at Martin Labbe Associates, said this “should be a record year.”

“Based on the backlog of orders, sales should be fantastic for the first six months at least. They could soften a bit in the second half — but not too much,” he said.

Brady was cautious to say how long the sales boom could continue.

“The question we have to ask is: Are truck fleets overbuying?” he said.

It is possible that some will find that they have been buying too aggressively and will begin to cancel orders, Brady said. That would not likely take place before 2000, he said.

For the full story, see the March 22 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.