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Sep 1, 2003 12:00 PM

Class 8 truck sales in the United States in July 2003 rose 6.7% versus June 2003, but fell 5.1% compared with July 2002, according to figures compiled by Ward's Communications.

Ward's noted that 13,386 Class 8 trucks were sold in July 2003, while 12,551 were sold in June 2003 and 14,095 were sold in July 2002.

In July 2002, Class 8 sales began to peak as truckmakers unloaded inventories of models with engines not compliant with Environmental Protection Agency regulations taking effect in October 2002.

According to Ward's, six manufacturers had better sales in July 2003 than they did in June 2003, and three had better sales in July 2003 than in July 2002.

Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star all saw higher sales in July 2003 than they did the previous month and July 2002.

Freightliner's sales climbed 8.5% versus June 2003 and 5.7% versus July 2002; Sterling's sales rose 18.9% compared with June 2003 and 35.4% against July 2002; and Western Star's sales advanced 11.9% versus June 2003 and 11.1% compared with July 2002.