CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR) reports its Fleet Equipment Buying Index for the first quarter of 2009 declined 9% from the prior-quarter reading to 75.8 (Q1 2008 = 100).
The index is a simple measure of planned buying behavior of for-hire, private and government fleets over the next three months. A lower reading in the Buying Index indicates that fewer fleets are planning to purchase equipment while a higher reading indicates that more are planning to purchase equipment.
CKCVR regularly polls a group of fleet operators about their equipment purchasing and maintenance practices. In January 2009, 44% of respondents planned to place orders for power units in the next three months and only 30% planned to place orders for trailers in that time period.
In addition to those fleets that have no immediate plans to place orders for equipment, a number plan to sit on the sidelines throughout 2009.
