August commercial trailer net orders were up 55 percent from August of 2009, continuing a healthy rebound from what was one of the worst years in the commercial trailer industry, according to ACT Research Co.
Eight of the nine trailer categories tracked by ACT posted year-over-year growth. Dump truck trailers, which primarily support the construction sector, declined by 2 percent compared to August of last year.
When asked about whether regulatory uncertainty has caused them to rethink the future of their company, more than half of fleet managers surveyed said they were staying the course. Smaller carriers, however, were more likely to be thinking of selling the company or at least some assets.
Transport Capital Partners recently completed its Business Expectation Survey for the third quarter. "Only about a quarter of the carriers say they are planning to change their business model in this uncertain environment," says Richard Mikes, TCP partner. "The other quarter of respondents plan to take capital gain dividends, sell assets, or sell their firms in 2010."
HANNOVER, GERMANY. Taking a stab at "the fortuneteller business,"Martin Daum, president &CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), expects 2011 Class 6 to 8 truck sales to be around 250,000 units for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. While that's "better than this year", he said during an interview at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show, "that's still a low, very low number for Class 6 to 8."
Large purchases by major fleets early in 2010 had given DTNA some optimism that the year's Class 6-8 sales numbers would come in considerably higher than2009's 187,000 units. But when smaller fleet orders did not follow in early summer, the maker of Freightliner and Western Star trucks took down its forecast to 210,000 units.
Southfield, MI - Tim Rogers has been named president of the Polk business unit at R. L. Polk & Co. Rogers will lead Polk's overall business objectives, policies and strategic direction.
Rogers joins Polk following a 29-year tenure with Maritz Inc., a leading marketing services company, where recent roles included chief marketing officer, president of Maritz Automotive Group and president and CEO of Maritz Research.
HANOVER, Germany "” There is no sales bubble coming soon for medium-duty trucks in North America, according to Martin Daum, president of Daimler Trucks North America.
Daum, interviewed here during the International Commercial Vehicles Motor Show, said, "I don't see it at the moment."
NEW YORK "” Fleet executives warned that the continuing, though modest, rise in freight volumes won't trigger an immediate surge in equipment orders.
Speaking at the Dahlman Rose investor conference here Sept. 8-9, top management at five fleets, including Werner Enterprises Inc., said they had no immediate plans to add more tractors because industry volume growth is bumping up against capacity reductions prompted by the recession.