CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR) has released the results of its quarterly Fleet Sentiment Report survey. According to CKCVR, truck fleets appear to be on solid ground entering 2017, with the majority of measures covered by the survey showing either positive quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year comparisons.
CKCVR says key results from the survey include:
- A combination of the number of fleets and the estimated unit volume of medium- and heavy-duty truck (primarily Class 8) planned orders for Q1 2017 show a 14 percent improvement over the same quarter last year.
- New specs for Class 8 trucks being ordered are heavily influenced by safety and aerodynamic technologies.
- Q1 truck orders earmarked for added capacity remain low at 5 percent of total expected unit volume.
- A majority of fleets surveyed continue to have a driver shortage problem
- Freight/work demand and fleet capacity are in equilibrium for most companies reporting.
- CKCVR’s “How’s Business” measure is back on an upward trajectory after more than a year of declining ratings.
- A very small percentage of fleets reporting are making plans yet to pre-buy or delay purchases based on new GHG-2 rules.
- Overall shop tools and equipment expenditures in 2017 are expected to be similar to 2016
Fleets participating in the Q1 2017 survey operate more than 40,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks (primarily Class 8) and 90,000 trailers. They represent a varied mix of fleet demographics, CKCVR says.
CK Commercial Vehicle Research has been surveying fleets for more than a decade and data reported in the Fleet Sentiment Report tracks activity from 2006.
