Everyone has their fingers crossed hoping the market bounces back soon. Sales are off by an average of 15 percent, and some regions where housing construction has been hardest hit are doing even worse.
But let’s just hope we don’t end up regretting what we wish for. We need things to improve, but we need them to get better gradually rather than like gangbusters.
If the demand for parts and service comes back suddenly, the industry likely will find itself in a situation where demand will far exceed supply for needed parts.
All of those neglected vehicles that have had repairs and maintenance delayed will need TLC.
When freight comes back, parked vehicles will need to be made road ready again. The idle trucks that have been cannibalized for parts to keep other vehicles in operation will need to be restored. And, if fleets find the need for capacity so great that they need to add units, truck manufacturing will ramp up again, further straining the supply chain.
It will create a perfect storm with all channels clamoring to get components. But there likely will not be enough to go around.
Like companies in most every industry, truck parts manufacturers have been forced to idle plants and reduce workforces. Some will be better positioned than others to handle a sudden surge in demand, but it’s a safe bet no one is ideally situated to deal with a rapid ramp up.
