The total value of shipments in the heavy-duty truck manufacturing business have increased the most of three vehicle classes over the past five-years, according to new 2012 Economic Census statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The total value of shipments for the heavy-duty truck manufacturing industry increased 51.9% from $19.4 billion in 2007 to $29.5 billion in 2012.

The number of establishments decreased from 101 in 2007 to 82 in 2012, while the number of employees increased 3.7%, from 29,120 in 2007 to 30,190 in 2012.

The average payroll per employee increased 15.3% from $46,498 in 2007 to $53,630 in 2012.

Of the total value of product shipments for this industry, trucks weighing between 14,001 pounds and 33,000 pounds made up 13%; trucks weighing 33,001 pounds or more made up 67.5%; and buses, including military and firefighting vehicles, made up 18.2%.

The Census Bureau defines heavy duty truck manufacturing as establishments primarily engaged in the manufacturing of heavy duty truck chassis and assembling complete heavy duty trucks, buses, heavy duty motor homes, and other special purpose heavy duty motor vehicles for highway use or the manufacturing heavy duty truck chassis only.

The Census Bureau also reported total value of shipments for the light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing industry decreased 20.7%, from $154 billion in 2007 to $122.2 billion in 2012.

The number of establishments decreased from 90 in 2007 to 77 in 2012 and the number of employees decreased 31.3%, from 84,806 in 2007 to 58,241 in 2012.

The average payroll per employee decreased 3.8%, from $81,262 in 2007 to $78,194 in 2012.

The federal agency defines this sector as establishments primarily engaged in the manufacturing complete light trucks and utility vehicles or manufacturing light truck and utility vehicle chassis only. Vehicles made include light duty vans, pick-up trucks, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.

For the automobile manufacturing industry the total value of shipments was $108.8 billion in 2012, up 28.4% from $84.7 billion in 2007.

The number of employees increased 5.6%, from 65,436 in 2007 to 69,078 in 2012, while the number of establishments decreased from 188 in 2007 to 180 in 2012.

The average payroll per employee decreased 6.5%, from $78,092 in 2007 to $73,053 in 2012.

The industry is defined as establishments primarily engaged in the of manufacturing complete automobiles or the manufacturing automobile chassis only.

All the statistics represent motor vehicles that were manufactured by establishments in the U.S. and were shipped domestically or exported and represent only the manufacturing of vehicles, not sales, according to the Census Bureau.