Truck sales are up for third month in a row
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• Truck manufacturers had some cause for celebration this week with sales up on last year, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The number of new trucks over 3.5 tonnes registered last month was up 2.1% on September 1991 — this is the third consecutive month that sales have been up year on year.
"After three months slightly up you can't dismiss it as a blip. Something is happening," says Gibb Grace of Leyland Daf.
Despite this strong third quarter he doesn't make light of the slump. Sales for JanuarySeptember are 5.1% down on last year — and last year hit a record low.
"If this strength continues through the last quarter that will be good, but I doubt it will be good enough to beat last year's figures," says Grace.
Leyland Daf has recorded a rise in rental vehicle registrations: this could be a sign that operators are winning more business but are not yet confident enough to buy new vehicles outright.