Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. totaled 27,096 units in September, up 25.7% on a daily rate basis from the 23,433 big rigs sold during like-2001. It's the biggest increase since June 1999 when deliveries shot up 28,9%, Ward's data shows.

Heavy-duty (Class 8) deliveries surged 51.8% in September, 13,502 vs 9,667 year-ago — the highest gain recorded by Ward's, surpassing the previous high of 49.7% set in January of 1993.

The huge gains result from customers rushing to restock fleets before higher prices associated with the Oct. 1 change in emissions regulations kicked in.

In the Class 8 segment, every nameplate recorded an increase.

Medium-duty (Class 4-7) sales hit 13,594 units in September, up 7.3% on a daily basis (23 days this year vs. 25 year-ago).

September's results equal a 350,000-unit seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) compared with year-ago's 310,000-unit SAAR.
— Wards' Automotive Reports

	SEPTEMBER			JANUARY-SEPTEMBER
	Month Units			Units
	2002	2001	DSR % Chg	2002	2001	Vol. %Chg
Class 1	427,240	449,551	3.3%	4,580,529	4,484,045	2.2
Class 2	187,801	192,197	6.2%	1,927,630	1,780,611	8.3
Class 3	6,935	7,156	5.3	59,469	68,327	-13.0
Class 4	2,735	3,208	-7.3	29,090	41,017	-29.1
Class 5	1,942	1,601	-31.8	17,989	18,506	-2.8
Class 6	4,527	2,815	74.8	32,731	32,365	-1.1
Class 7	4,390	6,142	--22.3	54,567	72,055	-24.3
Class 8	13,502	9,667	51.8	108,581	106,515	1.9
Total Trucks	649,072	672,337	4.9	6,810,986	6,603,441	3.1
Source: Ward's AutoInfoBank