April truck sales slip from March, but still lead 2017

Retail sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks slipped in April following a strong March but, compared to a year ago, the group is still coming out ahead thanks to Class 8, according to figures compiled by Wards Intelligence.

Dealers sold 60,522 trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings above 10,000 pounds last month (down 11% from March). By weight, the totals were 22,725 in Class 3 (-16%); 1,863 in Class 4 (+17%), 6,585 in Class 5 (-10%); 6,033 in Class 6 (-33%); 4,366 Class 7 (13%); and 18,950 in Class 8 (-2%).

Compared to sales in April 2017, however, the totals were up 3%, paced by a 37% gain in Class 8. Class 3 sales were down 15% from a year ago.

For the first four months of the year, medium- and heavy-duty truck sales were up 7% compared with 2017, again led by Class 8’s 37% improvement from a year ago. Class 4 YTD sales have climbed 18%.

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