Fleets appear to be planning to buy additional equipment, according to CK Commercial Vehicle Research.
The company’s Fleet Sentiment Report (FSR) Equipment Buying Index reached its highest level in two years in the third quarter. The FSR Buying Index measures planned buying behavior of for-hire, private and government fleets. It is based on responds to CKCVR's Fleet Sentiment quarterly questionnaire.
Almost half (45.1%) of participants in the third quarter survey said they plan to order medium and heavy power units in the next three months, and 43.1% plan to buy trailers.
Fleets responding to the third-quarter questionnaire operate in excess of 40,000 medium and heavy duty power units and 110,000 trailers.
“The number of fleets planning equipment purchases continues to improve quarter to quarter in 2010” said Chris Kemmer of CKCVR.
The number of parked vehicles reported is falling, utilization rates are improving, and a the amount of available freight is more closely matching fleet capacity.
“The one measure which moderates our enthusiasm now is the average size of the planned orders, which fell below the four-quarter moving average for both power units and trailers in the third quarter,” Kemmer said.
A complete analysis of responses is reported in the Fleet Sentiment Report (www.ckcvr.com/fleetsentiment) available to subscribers.