Improved demand across the entire heavy duty vehicle market is reflected in the most recently available data, according to ACT Research Co., which says it is "readily apparent" that the stage has been set for a long run-up in demand across the medium-duty and heavy-duty truck and commercial trailer segments.


Fundamentals such as improved fleet financial performance, some improvement in credit availability, as well as pent-up demand from long-delayed equipment replacements and upgrades across the entire fleet spectrum, all support the upcycle in the commercial vehicle market.

"While the pace of economic growth eased slightly in the first quarter of 2011, our forecast concludes that the U.S. economy has shifted into a self-sustaining recovery mode," said Sam Kahan, ACT's chief economist. "The recovery in the commercial vehicle sector is solidly underway, and the overall constraining factor for 2011 might actually be the industry's ability to build rather than truckers' demand for vehicles," added Kahan.