April truck sales dip again

NASHVILLE, Ind. — Preliminary data released by FTR Associates shows Class 8 total net orders for all major North American OEMs are down 9 percent in April 2009 from the month before, totaling 7,935 units.

Year over year, April orders were 57 percent less than in 2008 and continue to represent a significantly depressed Class 8 retail sales environment.

"We don’t see any near term increases in Class 8 order activity because the fundamentals of the trucking industry today don’t support that," said Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates.

He said that FTR took a hard look at everything likely to impact Class 8 sales "and right now that data indicates no significant improvement in new equipment demand."

Final data for April will be available from FTR later in the month. Interested parties can contact Eric Starks estarks@ftrassociates.net or 1-888-988-1699 ext 41.