COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Q1 2010 FSR Equipment Buying Index as reported by CK Commercial Vehicle Research (www.ckcvr.com) fell 21 percent from Q4 2009 to a reading of 54.5. The FSR Buying Index is a simple measure of planned buying behavior of for-hire, private and government fleets responding to CKCVR's Fleet Sentiment quarterly questionnaire.  The index is calculated based on a 100 reading in Q1 2008 when 49 percent of survey respondents planned power unit purchases and 49 percent planned trailer purchases.

The reluctance of fleet buyers to place orders for power units or for trailers in the first three months of 2010 resulted in the poor Q1 FSR Buying Index reading. 28 percent of respondents to the CKCVR's Q1 Fleet Sentiment questionnaire indicated they planned to place orders for power units and 25 percent planned trailer purchases. Details of planned orders are reported in the Fleet Sentiment Report available to subscribers. Extremely low reported Class 8 net orders for January reflect the sentiment of CKCVR's fleet advisors.   

CKCVR regularly polls their group of fleet advisors about equipment purchasing, operating and maintenance practices. The quarterly Fleet Sentiment survey includes questions about short and longer term equipment buying plans, preferred OEM, new specs, current fleet capacity vs. freight demand, equipment utilization rates including the percent of parked vehicles, and current industry issues. Beginning in Q1 2010, engine technology choices will be reported as well.  In January 2010, 60 fleets operating more than 110,000 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles responded to the Fleet Sentiment questionnaire. For more information about the Fleet Sentiment Report or other research conducted by CK Commercial Vehicle Research send an e-mail to chris@ckcvr.com.