COLUMBUS, Ind. — Although the growth rate of preliminary Class 8 same dealer sales volumes slowed in March, it showed no signs of letting up (+3.7%), according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.
“The gain in retail sales volumes was not as robust as history suggested but came on the heels of stronger-than-expected growth,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research. “In typical fashion, auction volumes increased 50% month-over-month, and wholesale transactions swelled 13% from February.”
March retail sales normally surpass the average month by around 9%, thanks to a 13-percentage point increase from February, Tam noted.
“Second quarter sales tend to be pretty average, with June as the epitome of average,” he said.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.