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It was another encouraging month for U.S. big-truck makers as sales jumped 24.6% in March, the industry’s 19th consecutive month of year-over-year gains, according to WardsAuto data.
Deliveries of medium- and heavy-duty trucks hit 38,332 units during the month, compared with 31,994 in the prior year, as all weight classes enjoyed year-over-year increases.
Sales in Class 8 soared 30.4% on 20,625 units vs. 16,452 year-ago with all companies posting double-digit gains. Daimler brands Western Star (+161.4) led all gainers while Freightliner posted a 32.9% increase, strengthening its hold on the segment with a 32.9% stake. PACCAR’s Kenworth was up 31.5% and Peterbilt jumped 37.2%. Volvo truck brands Volvo and Mack posted increases of 19.6% and 35.5%, respectively. Through three months, Class 8 was up 25.0% on unit sales of 55,809 against 44,651 prior-year.
Overall medium-duty sales rose 18.5% vs. 2014 with 17,707 units delivered in March.
Class 7 sales for the month totaled 4,798 units, 23.6% above year-ago results, as most companies enjoyed solid gains. Peterbilt was the lone decliner, slipping 4.8% while sister brand Kenworth managed a 30.2% improvement. Hino led all companies in the segment, rising 56.7%, albeit on small volume.
Class 6 fared the worst in March but still managed a 1.1% uptick. Results were mixed, a 243.2% surge recorded by Peterbilt was tempered by the segments two biggest players, Freightliner (-15.5%) and Ford (-17.3%). International posted a 17.2 % gain and overtook Ford as the second largest seller, raising its share to 25.5%.
The 33.4% rise in Class 5 sales was the best gain last month, and the best Class 5 performance on record. Freightliner led all brands with a 131.4% jump in deliveries. Share leader Ford was solid, recording a 19.8% increase, while FCA sales nearly doubled, up 92.0% to 1,743 units. Class 4 continued to be led by sales of Isuzu domestic models, up 55.5%, and its imported line was up 42.8%. Collectively, Isuzu commands 76.5% of the market. Second place Ford slid 27.1% to 206 units from 294 a year-ago.
Class 8 inventory rose last month to 47,182 units and was nearly 12,000 units ahead of last year’s 35,722. March’s days’ supply was 57, up from 56 in like-2014. Medium-duty truck makers ended the month with 50,394 units in inventory, a 71-day supply. That compares with 44,772 and 75 days in like-2014.
In other big-truck news: The U.S. Energy Department has lowered its forecast for on-highway diesel prices this year, but expects prices to move higher in 2016 although events in the middle east could have an impact on future pricing.
Diesel fuel will average $2.86 for calendar year 2015, according to the DOE's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook. Diesel is expected to rise to $3.24 in 2016, down 1 cent from the previous forecast.
