Truck sales in seven of eight classes were down by a smaller percentage in November than for the year to date, according to figures compiled by Wards Communications.
Among trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, the biggest difference came in Class 8, with sales up 4% compared to October but down 31% for the year compared to 2008.
Class 3 was the only one that experienced a larger decline from October to November, (down 26%) than it did in the year to date (down 21%).
Medium and heavy truck sales were down 9% in November over the same period a year ago and down 13% over the previous month.
Dealers sold 26,412 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds during the month, down from November 2008 (28,921) and from October 2009 (30,459). Year to date, sales were down 31%.
Compared with November 2008, Class 8 trucks were down 16%. Class 7 experienced a 12% increase.
Through the first 11 months of 2009, truck dealers sold 276,286 trucks with GVW ratings above 10,000 pounds, down 31% from the corresponding period of 2008.
Sales of light-duty trucks (GVW ratings of 10,000 pounds or less) improved over October: Class 1 was up 7% and Class 3 up 5%. For the year, total sales of all trucks were down 25%.