TRAILER MANUFACTURERS continued pumping out truck trailers at unprecedented levels in August, according to preliminary figures compiled by the U S Bureau of Census.
Manufacturers shipped an estimated 30,822 complete trailers during the month, up 52% from a year earlier. The increase can be attributed to an incredible surge in van trailers. The Bureau of Census estimates that the industry shipped 25,900 vans during the month, up 74% from August 1997.
By comparison, the rest of the industry was somewhat more subdued. The 511 tank trailers shipped during August were 20% more than year-earlier levels. Platform trailers edged down 7% from the 2,042 shipped in August 1997, and dumps were off 23%. Lowbeds edged up 2%.
In addition to the 30,822 complete trailers shipped during August, the industry turned out an estimated 1,898 containers and container chassis, down 46% from a year earlier, and 403 dollies and converter gear, up 143%.
Through the first eight months of 1998, manufacturers shipped an estimated 222,578 complete trailers, up 47% from the corresponding period of 1997.
Truck Sales Slip Truck sales, apparently feeling the effects of the General Motors strike, slipped 4% from August 1997, according to figures compiled by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Class 1 trucks (GVW ratings of 6,000 pounds or less) were the primary reason for the overall sales decline. Dealers sold 345,494 Class 1 trucks in August, down 10% from a year earlier. Despite the decline, however, sales for the first eight months of 1998, remained 3% ahead of last year's pace.
Class 2 trucks (GVW ratings of 6,001 to 10,000 pounds) continued to post gains. Customers bought 135,386 Class 2 trucks in August, up 5% from a year earlier. Year-to-date sales were up 18%.
Class 3 trucks (GVW ratings of 10,001 to 14,000 pounds) remained well ahead of 1997. For the month, 9,346 Class 3 trucks were sold, up 167% from the 3,495 trucks that left dealer lots in August 1997. For the first eight months, sales were up 72% from the corresponding period of 1997.
Class 4 trucks (GVW ratings of 14,001 to 16,000 pounds) remained the weak spot, perhaps losing sales to both the Class 3 market and the emerging Class 5. Sales slipped to 3,407 units in August, down 27% from a year earlier. Dealers sold 29,488 Class 4 trucks during the first eight months of the year, down 22% from the corresponding period of 1997.
Class 5 trucks (GVW ratings of 16,001 to 19,500 pounds) outnumbered Class 6 trucks in August. With 11 different manufacturers reporting sales of Class 5 trucks, this GVWR segment grew to 2,380 units sold in August, up 172% from a year earlier. For the year, the market bought 15,467 Class 5 trucks, up 127% from the first eight months of 1997.
Class 6 trucks (GVW ratings of 19,501 to 26,000 pounds) slipped 3% for the month but were up 57% year-to-date. Dealers sold 2,297 Class 6 trucks in August and 19,231 for the first eight months of 1998.
Class 7 trucks (GVW ratings of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds) were off 3% for the month and the year. Customers bought 10,180 Class 7 trucks in August and 74,211 through the first eight months of 1998.
Class 8 trucks (GVW ratings above 33,000 pounds) had sales of 17,385 units in August, up 29% from a year earlier. For the first eight months of 1998, dealers sold 133,464 Class 8 trucks, up 18% from the corresponding period of 1997.
Also IncreasingIn other areas: * Intermodal shipments edged up slightly, according to figures compiled by the Association of American Railroads. For the first 38 weeks of 1998 (ending September 26) the nation's railroads carried 6,389,660 containers and piggyback trailers, up 0.5% from the corresponding period of 1997. Piggyback trailers were down 3.6% for the period, but a 3.1% increase in container traffic resulted in an overall increase in intermodal shipments.
* Industrial production rebounded 1.7% in August, according to the Federal Reserve. At 129.1% of the 1992 average, total industrial production in August was 3.1% higher than it had been in August 1997.