Buying Spreads Beyond Class 8s as Medium-Duty Sales Surge

he truck sales boom of 2004, which has been particularly evident in the heavy-duty Class 8 segment, has also brought sizable gains for medium-duty truck makers.

Sales in the Class 6-7 market have climbed along with overall strength in the economy, but industry officials told Transport Topics those truck classes have enjoyed an added surge from a “pre-buy” as fleets lock in equipment ahead of new emissions rules in 2007 and to get ahead of rising truck prices.

Meanwhile, fleet managers and manufacturing executives alike say the medium truck market would be even hotter if not for several factors that are driving up truck prices.