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Gas Prices to Blame for Low Truck Sales

Carl and Shayne Patterson are in the market for a brand new truck. It’s a decision fewer and fewer Americans seem to be doing during these days of high gas prices.

“I have to haul a boat and I need a truck to haul but if it wasn’t for that I’d buy a hybrid,” says Carl Patterson.

The couple is considering buying a Toyota Tundra. But they’re not the only ones feeling the pinch of high gas prices. car dealerships are seeing a decline in Truck sales as many consumers are trading in those gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient vehicles.

“We do get a lot of domestic pickups and SUV’s being traded in on sedans,” says Robert Derrick, internet sales manager with Dick Dyer Toyota.

He says the dealership has seen an increase in small car sales. “The family, they’re looking at their dollar, their pocket as you definitely have a spike as far as the sedans. And better gas mileage,” says Derrick.

And while Toyota and other import dealers are feeling the pain from the pump, domestic dealers aren’t fairing any better. Jeremy Carter, internet sales manager with Love Chevrolet says his car dealership may have more to lose.

“It’s definitely hurt our market especially Chevrolet and most American car companies. Our trucks and SUV’s are much bigger sellers than our cars. We’re trying to push and get all the cars we can and stay away from the trucks which is the complete opposite of what we would have done 2 years ago,” says Carter.

But he says the push toward smaller cars is not coming easy for some of their loyal truck customers. “We’ve heard a lot of, man I love my truck, but I just don’t know if I can drive it anymore,” says Carter.

Meanwhile the Pattersons say if they do decide to purchase a new pickup, they’ll be driving it as a last resort. “I’ll probably still drive my old truck that gets good gas mileage and just leave this one for hauling the boats and campers and stuff like that,” says Patterson.