Medium- and heavy-truck sales were down 25% in November 2008 over the same period a year ago and down 15% over the previous month, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Dealers sold 28,921 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from November 2007 (38,663) and down from October 2008 (34,204).
Compared with November 2007, Class 8 trucks were up 3% — the only class to show a gain. Class 7 experienced a 44% decline.
Through the first 11 months of 2008, truck dealers sold 397,740 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 19% from the corresponding period of 2007.
Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) were even weaker in November versus a year ago, with Class 1 down 40% and Class 4 down 39%. For the year, total sales were down 19%.