Survey: Slow Rebound of Equipment Purchases in 2008

As part of its fourth quarter Fleet Sentiment inquiry, CK Commercial Vehicle Research included questions about 2008 equipment buying plans. Fifty-nine for-hire, private and government fleet managers responded to the questionnaire.

While the majority surveyed (78 percent) indicated they planned to buy power equipment in 2008, many will be waiting until Q2 or later and for 32 percent of them, the number of power units to be purchased will be "less than a typical buy."
With regard to trailer purchases, fewer fleets surveyed (64 percent) planned to buy trailers in 2008; of those, 68 percent indicated their purchases would represent a "typical" number of units for their fleet.
A small percentage of those fleets surveyed did indicate their equipment purchases in 2008 may be "more than a typical" number; 14 percent for power units and 11 percent for trailers.
Complete Q4 2007 FSR survey results are reported in the November-December issue of the Fleet Sentiment Report, a quarterly report of CK Commercial Vehicle Research. For more information about subscribing to the Fleet Sentiment Report, contact chris@ckcvr.com or phone (614) 459-9369. A sample issue is available at www. ckcvr.com/fleetsentiment .