Annual sales for U.S. heavy truck makers took a big hit last year, with every truck maker seeing declines in their retail sales.

Ward’s Communications reports total heavy-duty (Class 8) sales for the year were just over 139,000, a drop from 2000, when sales were close to almost 211,000.
During 2001, Freightliner trucks continued to capture the biggest share of the heavy truck market, 31.8%, a drop from 32.9% in 2000, while the company saw sales of its heavy trucks drop from 64,681 in 2000 to 44,351 last year, a 31% decline.
International managed to pull in sales of 21,895 heavy trucks last year, down 36.4% from 2000 when the company sold 34,417 trucks. They managed to capture 15.7% share of the market.
Kenworth sold 12,190 heavy trucks last year compared to 20,894 in 2000, marking a more than 41% decline in sales and giving the company an annual market share of 8.7%.
Mack trucks sold 20,351 heavy trucks in 2001 compared to 28,210 in 2000, an almost 28% decline. However, during 2001 they increased their market share to 14.6% from 14.3% in 2000.
During 2001, Peterbilt sold 15,305 heavy trucks compared to 24,763 the year before and saw its annual market share drop from 12.6% in 2000 to 11% for 2001.
Sales of Sterling branded heavy trucks were 9,345 in 2001, down 20.6% from the 11,770 sold the year before, but the brand managed to increase its market share from 6% in 2000 to 6.7% in 2001.
Volvo saw its annual heavy truck sales fall from 22,565 in 2000 to 13,964 to 2001, a drop of about 38%, giving the company a 10% share of the market
Western Star heavy truck sales totaled 1,354 in 2001 compared to 2,915 in 2000, representing a more than 53% drop. Its market share slipped to 1% in 2001, compared to 1.5% in 2000.
Sales in all other truck classes were also down for the year.
Class 7 sales for 2001 year totaled 91,651, down more than 25% from 122,614 in 2000.
Class 6 sales fell from 51,209 during 2000 to 42,434 last year, a more than 17% drop.
Class 5 sales fell more than 16% from 29,125 in 2000 to 24,362 in 2001.
Sales in the Class 4 category fell more than 36% to 21,895 in 2001 from 34,417 in 2000.
Class 3 sales posted a more than 12.5% drop, falling from 116,312 in 2000 to 101,499 last year.
About the only bright spot found in the numbers were that some heavy truck makers reports their December 2001 sales were better than a year ago and that sales in other truck classes slightly rebounded in December compared to the same month in 2000.