Leading U.S. economists at the National Truck Equipment Assn. (NTEA) Economic Outlook Conference this week said 2004 will be a substantial growth year that will be shared by industries throughout the U.S.

The improved economic performance will have a positive impact on truck and truck equipment sales as users replace aging fleets. Particularly good opportunities for improved sales performance specific to the truck sales market include freight forwarding, truck renting and leasing and the utilities industries.
Kenneth Kremar, a principal in Global Insight's Industry Practices Group (headquartered in Pennsylvania), said freight forwarding activity is expected to grow 4% by year-end. The freight forwarding industry is expected to continue growing by 5% in 2004 and an additional 4% in 2005.
"The freight forwarding industry accounts for more than 650,000 trucks. Growth in that market will create significant demand in Class 8 truck sales (mostly dry freight tractor-trailers) regardless of what happens in the other class ranges," said Kremar.
According to Douglas W. Clark, founder, president and CEO of AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources Corp. (New Jersey), "Trucks in general, regardless of the industry using the trucks, will need to be more sophisticated in incorporating wireless technology options in the vehicles in order to provide the end-user with better communication, resulting in increased productivity."
And truck buyers have more incentives than ever right now to purchase trucks, he said, because of the new tax bill stimulus as well as discount offerings in the light truck market. The new tax bill increased the potential write-offs on the value of purchased equipment from 62% to 73%.
In terms of the overall economy, the gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow more than 4% in 2004, increasing the demand for labor. This will in turn increase national income, putting the U.S. economy in a "virtuous cycle."
According to Eli S. Lustgarten, managing director of H.C. Wainwright & Co., Inc. (New York), "The 3% to 3.5% growth in GDP so far in 2003, has not been high enough to generate increased demand for labor. However, in the fourth quarter of 2003, and the first half of 2004, GDP growth is expected to exceed 4%, and an increase in demand for labor should occur in the second quarter of 2004."
The rate of inflation is forecasted to fall slightly in 2004 but not enough that we need to worry about deflation, according to Dr. Ed Nosal, senior economic advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
"Productivity is a more important factor in the current slow growth of the U.S. job market than the exporting of jobs," said Nosal.
In other words, U.S. industry is more productive than ever before, requiring less labor, he said.
In terms of foreign trade, there is an increasing amount of importing and exporting, which is a sign of increasing global economic activity, according to Steve Latin-Kasper, director of market data & research for the NTEA (Michigan).
"There are some specific markets in Eastern Europe, China, Russia and Australia that have continued to buy U.S. products even during the recent recession in the U.S. There are growing numbers of truck equipment manufacturers that export and this continues to be good news for them," said Latin-Kasper.
The NTEA was established in 1964 and currently represents nearly 1,500 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories.
Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the association.
For more information, call (800) 441-NTEA (6832) or (248) 489-7090.