OCTOBER sales of new trucks and heavy van sales bounced back to record levels with the recovery led by the Heavy Truck segment that recorded its best-ever October sales. 

The Truck Industry Council (TIC) said sales in the third quarter highlighted a trend of slowing new truck deliveries for the year, however this was reversed in October. 

The total market, truck and van, was up 4.5 per cent for the month of October over the same month in 2022, while year-to-date heavy vehicle sales are tracking even higher at 9.4 per cent over the first 10 months of last year. 

TIC CEO Tony McMullan said that with just two months remaining in the year “we are inching ever closer to a new all-time sales record for heavy vehicle sales in Australia.

“We may even crack the 45,000 new truck sales mark in a calendar year,” he said.

“It was great to see strong Heavy Duty truck sales in October, while the Medium truck and Light Van sectors also continue to perform solidly. 

“Light truck sales were weak in October, however continue to perform slightly above 2022 sales on a year-to-date basis. 

“It was also pleasing to see that the overall result for October 2023 was an all-time monthly record.”

In October, 3970 new heavy vehicles were delivered, making it an all-time record for the month. October eclipsed the previous October record, set in 2021, by 4.2 per cent or 165 trucks. 

All market segments, except Light Duty trucks, posted gains over the corresponding month last year.

The TIC said that there had been a couple of slower sales months following the financial year ended on June 30 – a date that also marked the conclusion of the federal government’s COVID instant asset write-off tax incentive.

Within the heavy vehicle sales category, Heavy Duty truck sales set an all-time record for October with the segment posting deliveries of 1558 units, up 13.0 per cent (or 179 trucks) on October 2022. 

“October last year having held the previous tenth month sales record,” the TIC said.

“Year-to-date the result is even better with the segment tracking a healthy 18.8 per cent ahead of this time last year. 

“In terms of actual truck numbers, the sales gap now sits at 2244 more Heavy trucks sold year-to-date than to the end of October 2022.”

The Medium Duty truck segment had a stellar month in October with sales – 22.1 per cent (or 118 units) more than the same month last year. A total of 652 Medium Duty Trucks were sold in October.  

Year-to-date the tally continues to build on solid 2022 volumes with 6525 MD trucks delivered to the end of October 2023 compared to 6166 Medium trucks this time last year, an increase of 5.8 per cent this year.

Light Duty truck sales have been up and down all year, with October another ‘down’ month. 

In October only 1268 Light trucks were delivered, down 12.3 per cent (or down 178 trucks) compared to the same month last year. 

To the end of October, 13,685 small trucks have been sold year-to-date, that represents a small increase of 170 sales (1.3 per cent) for sales in 2023.

The TIC said that Light Duty van sales continued to recover from the lows of 2022 and October 2023 was another solid month for vans in Australia. 

“October 2023 saw sales up by 11.8 per cent (or 52 vans) over October 2022,” it said.

“The year-to-date sales are even better, tracking up over last year by 14.0 per cent. That represents 615 more van sales thus far in 2023 compared to this time last year.”

The TIC is the peak body representing all suppliers of on-road heavy vehicles in Australia.  TIC members represent 17 truck brands currently on sale in Australia, plus four truck engine and major component brands.