Medium-Duty US Retail Sales in June Fall Flat

[kscarbel2]

Transport Topics  /  July 15, 2019

U.S. retail sales of medium-duty trucks in June dipped ever so slightly overall as they posted a gain only in the Class 6 segment, WardsAuto.com reported.

Total sales reached 21,574, down 0.2% compared with a year earlier when sales were 21,611.

For the six-month period, sales rose 5% to 121,991 compared with 116,227 in the 2018 period, according to Ward’s.

One industry analyst is forecasting for Classes 4-7 sales of 255,000 in 2019, or 2% growth year-over-year.

“Retail sales are tracking the medium-duty forecast very well, but the current situation, as it relates to build, suggests upward pressure on the forecast. Large new vehicle inventories and a slowing in order intake balance this pressure, resulting in stasis for the medium-duty forecast,” he said.

Class 7 sales fell 7.5% to 5,123. Freightliner, a brand of Germany's Daimler, earned a leading 40% market share.

International notched a 30% share. Paccar posted a 22% share on sales of its Kenworth and Peterbilt brands.

In related news, on July 3, Ford released its second-quarter sales report and noted its F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks achieved their highest combined sales since 1997.

Combined sales of both trucks were up 83% in the second quarter compared with the year earlier quarter — 5,838 vs. 3,190 — and up 53% year-to-date at 9,131 compared with 5,977 a year earlier.

“With the Super Duty, we’ve got great commercial business and we call it commercial, we’ve got like two or three accounts that are over 5,000. We have thousands of smaller accounts under 10 units a year, under 20 units a year. Are those really retail, are those really fleet? [Dealers] know those customers personally, they’re involved with their businesses, they’re making sure they keep their trucks running,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service.

Ford has 675 dealers and sold a leading 7,349 trucks in Classes 4-7 in June.

Landscape and delivery services, beverage delivery, and moving and storage were some of the segments that were drawn to the Super-Duty trucks, according to Ford.

Class 6 sales jumped 12.3% to 6,711 compared with a year earlier. Ford had a leading 34% market share.

In Classes 4-5, sales dropped 3.5% to 9,740.

[bulldogboy]

In southwest Florida most landscapers use four door Isuzus. I did catch this new Ford F-650 in Florida in February, 2019.

[Maxidyne]

"We have thousands of smaller accounts under 10 units a year, under 20 units a year. Are those really retail, are those really fleet?"

Sorry Ford, but the customer who buys even just one truck to earn a living has different needs than a customer who buys an F150 to impress the neighbors, an Explorer to traverse the wilds of the shopping malls, or a Mustang to impress their buddies. If you want my business back, quit trying to rip me off like you do your retail customers!

[TS7]

I have seen a lot of 2019 F-650's this year so far. Most belong to contractor's or landscapers. Took a F-650 gas 5 yard dump loaded for a spin, very quiet, drives great and very good brakes. Ford must be doing something right. The people that I know that have new Ford trucks this year like them and will buy more. 

[kscarbel2]

I'm noticing more F-750s on the road as well (I would like to know what percentage are derated to 26,000lb for non-CDL status).

[TS7]

Kscarbel I think you are right about non-CDL status for the F-750.

[Red Horse]

dealer near me currently has a 750 they are advertising as a 26,000 lb. gvw