U.S. Big Trucks See Best Sales Numbers in Seven Years

U.S. sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks rose 5.5% on a daily-rate basis in January compared with year-ago, as deliveries hit 26,296 units, WardsAuto data shows.

Class 8 sales jumped 7.5% to 14,146 units, compared with 13,158 year-ago. Volvo Truck led the way in the segment as their sales rose 45.1%, followed closely by International with an increase of 31.6%. Market leader Daimler’s brands experienced losses, with Western Star tumbling 42.0% and Freightliner down a more modest 8.6% to 5,361 units.

Overall medium-duty deliveries were mixed as Classes 5 and 7 posted gains while Classes 4 and 6 sales dipped.

Class 7 deliveries inched up 2.3% for the month with PACCAR’S Kenworth brand rising 34.0% and Peterbilt gaining 39.0%. Class leader Freightliner was up 11.2% on sales of 2,078. Losers in the group included International, down 20.5% and Ford, down 13.6%.

In Class 6, Ford overtook Freightliner as the sales leader with deliveries of 1,481 units, up 65.7%, as Freightliner dropped 29.8% against prior period. Other losers included International, down 18.7%, and Kenworth, off 17.1%. For the month, overall Class 6 sales fell 1.2% on volume of 3,888.

Class 5 deliveries posted a 15.7% rise from prior-year as Ford maintained its hold on the segment with sales of 2,541 units, resulting in a 64.7% share. Freightliner sales rose more than 600% on the strength of its Step Van Chassis, increasing share to 9.6%. Chrysler deliveries spiked 37.4% on sales of its Dodge Ram Cab Chassis.

January Class 4 sales plunged 28.7%, by far the worst performing segment. Class leader Isuzu  largely was responsible for the decline as its sales fell 52.1%.  Strong results by Ford, up 19.9%, and smaller-volume sellers International and Mitsubishi Fuso were not enough to offset Isuzu losses.

Class 8 had a 58 days’ supply at the end of January, compared with 62 year-ago. However, inventory rose slightly to 32,911 units from 32,839. There was an 83 days’ supply of medium-duty trucks, up from 76 prior-year as the month’s unit inventory rose to 40,551 trucks from 35,666.

In other big-truck news:

According to Truckinginfo.com, the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 1% in December from November, declining after a 1-month rise, U.S. Department of Transportation figures show, but activity is still healthy.

Its Freight Transportation Services Index shows the December level of 116.5 was 23% above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession. Also the level of freight shipments in December measured by the index was the second highest all-time level and 1% below the all-time high level of 117.7 in November 2013.

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