U.S. retail sales of medium-duty trucks in June dipped ever so slightly overall as they posted a gain only in the Class 6 segment, WardsAuto.com reported.

Single-digit increases defined U.S. retail sales of medium-duty trucks in December and for the full year compared with year-ago periods, WardsAuto.com reported.

Medium-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles are a viable alternative to diesel and gasoline-powered Classes 3-6 trucks in urban settings where the freight haul is less than 100 miles, according to a new guidance report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency.

Despite some potential clouds on the horizon from higher tariffs, optimism about the overall economy founded on strong numbers in housing, construction and growth in e-commerce are boosting sales of medium-duty trucks and pushing the sector out of decadelong doldrums.

Ryder is moving into the electric-truck business, an early sign that a market for commercial electric vehicles is beginning to take shape.

Medium-duty truck body manufacturer Morgan Corp. will expand its manufacturing footprint into New England, it said, and a site search is under way to select a location capable of supporting the production of up to 3,000 truck bodies annually.