• Truck and artic registrations in the UK rose a
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healthy 18% in May compared to the same month last year. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show 2,568 vehicles were registered, compared with 2,172 in May last year. Registrations are also up nearly 5% for the first five months of the year from 12,520 to 13,126.
However, some truck manufacturers and industry figures are cautious about heralding a sustained recovery in the haulage industry.
Total commercial vehicle sales in May were disappointing, falling 4.5% to 15,311. Registrations for the year to date have also fallen 4.5% to 82,482.
One manufacturer says some of the increase in truck registrations may be due to a few large fleet purchases and manufacturers pushing though registrations before the more stringent Euro-1 emission regulations which come into force in October.
One sign, however, that the construction and tipping sectors are picking up can be seen with the sales of Hino trucks. The Irishassembled Japanese marque, which always comes near the bottom of the SMMT listings, is almost entirely bought by ownerdrivers in the building industry. Its sales are up from three to 26 in May and from 28 to 122 in the year to date.