Monthly sales totals for Class 8 trucks in the United States have been retreating all year — and, in the final months of the year, the retreat is turning into a rout.
If the performance of the industry in November is repeated in December, the total for the year will be around 210,000 — more than 50,000 fewer than the record year of 1999, when sales totaled 262,316.
In November, the total number of big trucks sold by the industry was 44.3% lower than in November 1999, the biggest month-to-month difference this year. Year-to-date sales were 14.6% behind the first 11 months of 1999.
Sales in November totaled 12,262, compared with 22,028 in 1999. Year-to-date sales were 196,759, vs. 238,489 in 1999.
For the full story, see the Dec. 25 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
