Medium and heavy truck sales were up 2% in December over the same period a year ago and down 28% for the year, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Dealers sold 36,066 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, up from December 2008 (35,523) and up 37% over November 2009 (26,421).
Compared with December 2008, Class 8 trucks were down 9% (11,537, compared to 12,747). Class 7 sales were 3,365, less than 1% under the 3,376 sold in December 2008.
For the year, truck dealers sold 311,390 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down from 433,263 in 2007. Class 8 sales were 94,798, a 29% decline from 2008 (133,473). Class 7 sales were down 20% (39,087, compared to 48,880). Sales of all classes were down 23%, from 6,679,796 to 5,145,122.
Every class experienced a drop, with Class 3 experiencing the smallest (17%), followed by Class 1 (19%). The biggest decline came in Class 4 (45%).
The decline in sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) in December versus a year ago was less in 2009. Class 3 (up 22%) and Class 1 (up 16%) both showed an increase, while Class 2 was down just 4%.