The first-quarter 2012 FSR Buying Index as reported in the Fleet Sentiment Report published by CK Commercial Vehicle Research rose 4.6 points from the fourth quarter of 2011 to a reading of 93.9.
CKCVR says the improved index primarily reflects increased activity in trailer planned purchases. While the percentage of fleets planning to place orders for power units rose marginally, the actual size of those combined orders fell below the fourth quarter of 2011. For trailers, an increased percentage, 45 percent of respondents, planned orders, and the volume of those orders more than doubled from fourth-quarter 2011 data.
One in four respondents plan capacity increases with power unit orders, while 40 percent planned to use some trailer purchases to add capacity. Report participants continue to be effected negatively by a shortage of drivers, with 38 percent needing drivers now to fill current seats or to help them add capacity.
CKCVR surveys for-hire, private and government fleet representatives quarterly to determine their short-range order plans for both power units and trailers. The FSR Index is calculated by combining the estimated size of the planned truck and trailer orders for the group reporting along with the percentage of report participants who indicate they will likely place orders.
