Truck sales have all taken a hit in 2008, but a few models have fared better than others. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has compiled a list of truck sales for the first half of 2008 and compared the results with numbers for the same period last year. The Ford Ranger (which has the best EPA ratings for a small truck) and both of the Toyota pickups have single-digit declines. Others aren't as lucky, but there's a wide spread. Before you take a look, which truck do you think has seen the biggest drop in sales? Hint: it's not out of Detroit.

SEMA Profile

_{Photo © Ford Motor Co.}

There's no doubt that automakers feel like the truck buying public has abandoned them, so it isn't surprising that much of the news we're hearing revolves around plant closings and scaled-back truck production. As everyone scrambles to build small, fuel efficient cars, plans for energy conscious pickups seem to be forgotten. The fuel crunch has been coming on for three decades, plenty of time to develop decent trucks that aren't gas hogs. I've never understood why manufacturers close their eyes to trends that are obvious to the rest of us.

Excerpts from GM's July 15th Press Briefing

• More reductions to truck production and production of associated components; four truck plant closings
• Still looking for a buyer for HUMMER
• May sell some of its plants around the world
• Salary reductions, bonus eliminations, health-care terminations for retirees over 65
• No dividends on common stock
• Staff reductions

GM said we'd have two hybrid trucks in 2009 and a small ute-like Pontiac in 2010 -- hopefully those projects are still on-target, along with ramped up research for future models from everyone who builds a truck.

Truck Fuel Economy

Ford Ranger tops the list.
More Fuel Economy Ratings