Truck sales headin; or big boom
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• Hauliers are buying, hiring and renting more commercial vehicles than ever before, according to surveys out this month. Sales of CVs are set to hit record levels in 1988 and truck contract-hire and rental is booming too. The research, by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, backs forecasts by Commercial Motor's parent, Reed Business Publishing, that confidence and prospects are grow ing in the haulage industry anc that "1988 and 1989 are likely to be boom years" (CM 30 June-6 July).
More than 175,000 CVs were sold in the first six months of 1988 — an increase of 10.3% on the same period last year. By Christmas sales are expected to overtake 1987's record total of 312,730.
Iveco Ford still tops the market above 3.5 tonnes with 8,544 vehicles sold so far this year and 25.3% of the market. Leyland Daf has a 21.8% slice, selling 7,411 to June, with Mercedes-Benz placed third with 5,015 sales (14.8%).
Volvo is holding its fourth position, (10.3%13,497), followed by Renault (6.9%/2,333) — a fall of 259 sales on the same period last year. ERF's registrations total 1,853 (5.6%); Scania's 1,499 (4.49%) and Foden's 685 (2%).
Sales of all trucks above 3.5 tonnes rose by 16.4% to 33,976. In the medium van sector, still dominated by the Ford Transit, total sales rose 10.4% to 75,843 units. Ford increased its sales by 8.5% to 31,702.
Truck contract hire and rental is also booming, says the BVRLA. The number of 7.5tonne-plus CVs on its member's books leapt from 4,990 tc 6,325 between 1096 and the end of 1987.
Light vans under contract hire rose by 3,273 (20%) over the year, and the total number of trucks and trailers under contract hire has risen by 3,773 (15%) over 1986. VRLA members' fleets now ave a bigger proportion of Vs — especially heavier vehies and trailers.
Its members — who repreent the vast majority of vehile leasing and rental cornanies in the UK — say that le market for cars is falling ut demand for CVs is increasig, with a marked trend torards heavier trucks.
The companies had an ggregate of 42,900 commerial vehicles (excluding trailers) n their fleets — up by 5,521 15%) on 1986 — mainly due o the number of vehicles over '.5 tonnes on contract hire. In the self-drive rental secor the number of cars fell by core than 4,000, while light Pans, heavier trucks and trail!rs all increased.