• Freightliner Bullish on Sales

    LOUISVILLE, KY – Freightliner LLC President & CEO Rainer Schmueckle is predicting a boom in truck sales this year in North America for both heavy- and medium-duty commercial trucks. “After three really terrible years for Class 8 sales, we are clearly on the verge of a strong recovery,” he said at the Mid America Trucking Show. “Class 8 orders are surging through the first three months of this year
    March 26, 2004

    LOUISVILLE, KY – Freightliner LLC President & CEO Rainer Schmueckle is predicting a boom in truck sales this year in North America for both heavy- and medium-duty commercial trucks.

    “After three really terrible years for Class 8 sales, we are clearly on the verge of a strong recovery,” he said at the Mid America Trucking Show. “Class 8 orders are surging through the first three months of this year and even though medium-duty sales have been sluggish to recover, we are starting to see positive signs there as well.”

    Schmueckle is forecasting total Class 8 sales of 220,000 units in 2004 for Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., a 20% increase from the 180,000 Class 8 trucks sold in 2003. Medium-duty truck sales are expected to climb 12% in North America this year to 150,000 units, up from 133,500 units last year.

    “Most of the volume is being driven by big linehaul fleets, but now orders are rising from small regional haulers and vocational fleets – they’re getting back into the market for equipment now,” he said. “We also expect the U.S. economy to grow by 4% this year, which should help maintain the considerable positive momentum of truck sales.”

    About the Author

    Sean Kilcarr

    Editor in Chief

    Sean Kilcarr is a former longtime FleetOwner senior editor who wrote for the publication from 2000 to 2018. He served as editor-in-chief from 2017 to 2018.

     

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

    Sign up for our free eNewsletters

    Latest from News

    Yevheniia Ryzhova | Dreamstime.com
    Why Clear Communication is Key to Retaining Happy, Motivated Drivers
    Drivers want to be seen. Supported. Heard. And they can tell when it’s genuine and when it’s just for show.
    J.B. Poindexter & Co.
    DCBM brand ambulances
    Parent company of work truck upfitting giants Reading Truck and Morgan Olson expands into the emergency vehicle market with the addition of one of North America’s largest ambulance...
    Oxy
    Occidental Chemical, known as OxyChem, produces indispensable chemicals internationally. This small private fleet covers about 2.5 million miles annually, delivering products to customers across the U.S.
    Members Only
    Leadership and training turned this chemical bulk hauler into one of the safest fleets in the U.S. Intensive training and experience pay off for Oxy's Occidental Chemical transportation...