Continued strong demand is keeping trucks in the spotlight, according to the latest registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations for trucks were up 21.6% in June compared with 2007, and up 22.9% to 58,288 for the rolling year. This contrasted to a 5.7% fall in monthly van sales compared with last year, although sales for the rolling year remain up 2.5% at 337,294.

Two-axle artics were the biggest monthly winners, up 98.3% on June 2007,although the rolling year increase was 14.8%. Sales of three-axle artics increased 32.3% in June over last year, and are up 28.3% for the rolling year. Overall registrations were down 2.3% in June, but up 5.1% on the rolling year to 395,582.

"Healthy truck orders suggest steady demand for some time, while van registrations have stabilised at record levels," says SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt. The biggest loser in the van segment was pickups. Sales in June fell 48.3% on the same month last year.