Paccar Leasing recently added eight new franchise locations in six states and one Canadian province.


Steadily increasing costs associated with aging truck equipment have more private fleets looking at full-service leasing as an option to buying new trucks, according to President Neil Vonnahme.

PacLease franchises are opening new locations in Heyburn, Idaho; Loves Park, Ill. Jonesburg, Mo.; Pendleton and Portland, Ore.; Lancaster, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Dallas, Texas; and Saint Mathieu-Laprairie, Quebec.

"According to the 2012 National Private Truck Council Benchmarking Survey, 54% of survey respondents reported leasing the majority of their equipment, which is up dramatically compared to results from last year's survey," Vonnahme said. "The same survey also shows that 36% reported owning their equipment, down by more than 6 percentage points over last year."

Vonnahme points out that over the last five years, the survey has shown a growing trend toward leasing. In 2008, the NPTC Benchmark Survey reported a little over 35% of respondents leasing a majority of their equipment. It's been steadily on the rise, he added.

"An increasing number of private fleets are finding their profits being challenged by a flood of higher maintenance costs associated with aging equipment," he said. "They understand that a new truck offers lower maintenance costs, improved fuel economy and greater operational efficiencies, which results in lower operating costs."

PacLease franchises also find that customers are increasingly looking at full-service leasing as a way to acquire popular Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with comfortable driver features to attract and keep good drivers, he said.