Truck Sales Decline 9.7%

etail sales of heavy-duty trucks dropped 9.7% in May from the same month in 2002, as declines for four truck brands more than offset increases for the rest.

It was the third monthly decline in the five months so far this year, and left Class 8 sales through May trailing weak 2002 volumes by 6.6% as the market continued to be hampered by motor carrier skittishness over new models and a general weakness in business equipment spending.

May sales fell to 12,551 units from 13,906 a year earlier, according to Ward’s Communications, which tracks retail truck sales. Year-to-date sales reached 50,264 units, compared with 53,515 in 2002, Ward’s said.