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U.S. medium-duty truck retail sales increased overall in July compared to a year ago, despite mixed results across vehicle segments, according to data from Wards Intelligence.

Total Class 4-7 truck sales rose 6% to 20,792 units for the month, compared to 19,618 in the same period last year, and 4.2% from 19,959 units in June. These results ended a brief two-month period of year-over-year declines in medium-duty truck sales.

The data showed that two of the four medium-duty classes posted year-on-year increases. Class 7 sales increased 16.5% from 4,195 to 4,885 units, while Class 5 sales increased 11% from 7,066 to 7,842 units. Class 4 saw an 8.5% decline from 2,159 to 1,975 units, and Class 6 saw a 1.7% decline from 6,198 to 6,090 units.

“I don’t think things have changed all that dramatically,” said Steve Tam, vice president of ACT Research, noting that the growth in Class 7 was largely due to the private fleet and rental segments.

RELATED: Class 8 truck sales end nearly a year of declines

“This Class 7 truck is just a wonderful replacement for a CDL driver,” he said, noting the opportunity the Class 7 presents for Class 8 drivers moving away from heavy-duty trucks. “Those fleets that are particularly focused on local pickup and delivery can move to a 27-foot box truck. They’re not as productive as they necessarily would be (with) a Class 8 semi, but they also may not need the capacity that would allow them to do that.”

Tam added: “This is a bread-and-butter truck for the industry, and I think that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing growth there.”

Tam, however, noted that the Class 6 is more of a mid-size truck. Small businesses that need a basic delivery truck might get a Class 5 truck, while businesses with larger capacity needs might opt ​​for a Class 7 truck.

Freightliner, a brand of Daimler Truck North America, sold the most Class 7 trucks during the month with 2,058 units. Navistar’s International brand sold the most Class 6 trucks with 1,682 units. Ford sold the most Class 5 trucks with 4,526 units. Isuzu sold the most Class 4 trucks with 821 units.