October Truck Sales Increase 14.4%

.S. retail sales of heavy-duty trucks had their smallest monthly gain of 2005 in October — 14.4% higher than a year earlier — but still the second-best October in history.

Truck manufacturers and analysts said the Class 8 market, which has been operating at a blistering pace, remains strong and that they expect fast sales to continue into 2006 as fleets replace aging equipment.

Truck makers sold 22,335 units in October, trailing only the 22,945 sold in October 1999, the strongest-ever year for Class 8 sales, according to data from Ward’s Communications.