May Class 8 Truck Sales Jump 20%

eavy-duty truck manufacturers had their second-busiest month ever in May, selling 25,149 Class 8 vehicles, a 20% jump from a year ago. Sales so far this year are 18.2% ahead of the pace in 1999, when they hit a record 262,316, according to the most recent monthly survey by Wardsauto.com.

U.S. monthly heavy-duty truck sales have now increased year-over-year for 31 months in a row, Ward’s said.

So far, 2006 has tallied three of the four best months ever for heavy-duty truck sales. Original equipment manufacturers said they are expecting similar results for the rest of the year as fleets and other truck buyers continue with their “pre-buy” plans to avoid purchasing the earliest 2007 diesel engines redesigned to comply with tougher federal environmental regulations taking effect Jan. 1.