February Class 8 truck sales fall to record low level

In a brand-by-brand look at the most recent figures, Navistar’s International brand took the top spot for February, selling 1,729 trucks. Daimler Trucks North America’s Freightliner sold 1,335 trucks. Pictured is the International ProStar.

The Trucker Staff

3/12/2009

Historically, February is a bad month for truck sales. In these tough times for trucking, a poor report shouldn’t be a surprise — and the latest data lives down even to historically low expectations. According to figures provided to The Trucker by Ward’s Automotive, February Class 8 sales totaled 6,236 trucks in the United States, the worst one-month showing in data dating to 1985.

Compared to the paltry 7,374 trucks sold the month before, February still registered a 15.4 percent slip.

The February number is also 39 percent lower than February a year ago (10,229 trucks).

The February 2009 total joins January 1992 (6,738 trucks) and February 1991 (6,977) as the only months in last 25 years to slip below 7,000 units. Truck sales in February during the run-up in 2005, 2006, and 2007 averaged about 18,000 units.

In a brand-by-brand look at the most recent figures, Navistar’s International brand took the top spot for the month, selling 1,729 trucks, and its 23 percent slide from the same month last year was the best of the Class 8 field. Daimler Trucks North America’s Freightliner sold 1,335 trucks in February, down 45.6 percent from 2008.

A couple of nameplates did gain ground over January, however. Volvo’s Class 8 sales surged 39 percent, on 745 trucks sold, while Volvo Trucks North America’s other offering, Mack, saw a 25.8 percent improvement (453 trucks sold). Likewise, Kenworth gained 18.5 percent in February (775 trucks sold) and Paccar sibling Peterbilt improved 13 percent (837 trucks sold).

Month-to-month numbers, it should be noted, can vary greatly — especially between quarters or from year’s end — depending on an OEM’s sales incentives and reporting procedures.

The market share pie just two months into the year shows Freightliner with a 28.4 percent slice and International with 28.2 percent. Peterbilt’s share is 11.6 percent and Kenworth holds 10.5 percent of the Class 8 market.

Since the February report last year, International’s market share has improved 451 basis points, while Freightliner has improved its leading position by 371 basis points so far in 2009. Volvo has seen its share fall from almost 15 percent to just under 10 percent.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.