Sales of 17,373 tractors in the month of January made for the best start to a new year since 2007, according to data received from Wards Automotive. Back then, carriers were scrambling to add tractors to their fleets that were built before new Environmental Protection Agency guidelines resulted in changes to diesel engines that carriers feared would reduce fuel mileage and increase maintenance costs, concerns that were later substantiated.

This time, increased freight and the fear of not being able to buy enough trucks to handle it all are pushing the market upward.

The January sales result was down 25.7 percent from December 2014 sales of 23,379 tractors. Such a drop is typical, since December is usually the best sales month in each year as businesses adjust end-of-year finances and prepare for the year to come.

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