Truck Fleet Buys Improve

In April 2009, 48% of fleet equipment buyers polled planned to place orders for power units in the next three months, says CK Commercial Vehicle Research CKCVR). In the same poll, 38% reported planned trailer buys for the same period.

CKCVR reported the Equipment Buying Index improved to 93.3 in the second quarter vs. 75.8 in the first quarter of 2009. The index is a simple measure of planned buying behavior of for-hire, private and government fleets projected ahead three months, explains CKCVR. A lower reading indicates fewer fleets are planning to purchase equipment, while a higher reading indicates more planned equipment purchases.

While there was an increase in the number of respondents who planned to place equipment orders, the size of those orders remain weak, said CKCVR. The index for the second quarter of 2008 was 94.4, rising to 99.1 in the third quarter and then dropping to 83.7 in the final quarter of 2008.