SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Year-over-year new commercial vehicle registrations are up for the third straight month – the first time since 2007 that has happened.

According to Polk Commercial Vehicle Solutions’ Commercial Vehicle Market Intelligence Report, second quarter registrations for Classes 3 to 8 vehicles were up 11 percent from the second quarter of 2009, with 89,300 units.

In June, registrations were up 6.9 percent from the same month in 2009.

However, the numbers during the first half of this year are still the lowest first six months of new registrations since 1991.

The index also shows that 2010 new registrations are on track to yield 346,000 units, slightly lower than the previous estimate of 346,300 units, but on track for a 6.7 percent boost over 2009.

For class 8 specifically, new registrations gained 7.9 percent in the first half of the year.

International led the pack with a 25.4 percent share of the Class 8 market during the first half of the year, while Freightliner was close with a 24.7 percent share.

The used truck market saw twice as many transactions during the first half of 2010.

During the quarter, used truck transactions accounted for 67.5 percent of registrations.

For the first half of 2010, used registrations increased 28.8 percent — their highest level in the past six years, surpassing a previous high in 2005 by 11. 8 percent.

As well, trailer registrations were up 38 percent from the same period of 2009, with vans, in particular, gaining 74.9 percent over 2009.

— via Truckinginfo.com