SURVEYS USA & Canada

* USA - Finds US fleets ready to buy tractors, but not trailers

Columbus,OH,USA -Truck News -6 Nov 2009: -- Despite encouraging preliminary Class 8 net order figures in October, fleet managers aren’t opening their wallets just yet, according to the latest FSR Equipment Buying Index produced by CK Commercial Vehicle Research... The company’s fourth quarter survey, which measures US fleet buying intentions, fell 23% from the previous quarter to a reading of 68.7. The main source of the decline was that very few fleets planned to purchase new trailers... Only 21% of responding fleets said they’ll be purchasing new trailers in the fourth quarter while 46% planned on adding power units... (Photo from gizmag: The International DuraStar at the Hybrid Truck Users Forum in South Bend, Ind.)


* Canada - New survey explores transportation and logistics world in 2030

Toronto,ONT,CAN -Truck News -6 Nov 2009: -- Self-guided transport vehicles and the reverse of globalization by 2030? Those were some of the possibilities considered by transportation and logistics executives in a recent global survey... That was the question PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) posed to transportation company executives during a recent global survey, Transportation and Logistics 2030... More than half of respondents said they’re confident alternative energy will account for up to 80% of their overall energy mix by 2030. Nearly 70% of respondents predicted that by 2030, all emissions will be tracked along the entire supply chain and factored into the price of a product... Respondents felt oil prices will be kept in check thanks to the development of alternative energy sources coupled with the fact competition from new energy sources will force OPEC to increase oil production, keeping oil prices from ballooning to $1,000 per barrel... Respondents also agreed that more flexible and efficient usage of transport modes will emerge, including the use of autonomous and self-controlled systems and auto-guided vehicles that will revolutionize freight transportation... (Photo from imagesme: Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Eco-D Concept Dump)