Truck registrations were down 3.2 per cent in the UK in August 2008, according to the latest report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a stark contrast to the “buoyant” figures seen in May this year and yet another indication of a worsening economic environment.
Truck registrations for the rolling year however were up 20.5 per cent to 58,553 and since the beginning of 2008 37,932 have been registered, a 25.9 per cent improvement on last year.
Paul Everitt, chief executive of SMMT, said August is traditionally a slow month for registrations and although the truck sector is holding in general he expects an “overall and marked downward trend” in the long term.
The number of rigids registered last month was down 9.3 per cent to 2,353. However for the year to date registrations were up by 17.3 per cent to 26,165.
Registrations for two-axle artics seemed to buck the trend and were particularly strong in August, increasing by 57.7 per cent to 265, with the total for the year so far up 68.2 per cent to 2,301.
The number of registrations for three-axle artics only improved by 4.7 per cent, but since the start of the year 9,466 have been registered, an increase of 46.5 per cent compared to last year.
