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August 23, 2000 9:45 AM, EDT

While sales figures for the biggest trucks on the road continue to lag behind those of record-setting 1999, they are well ahead of the numbers from 1998, the year in which the previous record was established.

The 139,303 Class 8 trucks sold through July represent a 6.8% decline from last year’s figure of 149,501. Truck manufacturers, however, are suffering from a comparison to the phenomenal 1999 sales.

By July of 1998, truck manufacturers had sold only 116,079 units, and 1998 was a record year until the selling spree of 1999. In 1998, a record-setting 209,483 Class-8 units were sold. The following year, the record was increased to 262,316 units.

According to Ward’s Communications of Southfield, Mich., total Class 8 sales in July were 17,504, a drop of 20.2% from the 21,933 sold in July 1999.

For the full story, see the Aug. 21 print edition of Transport Topics. .