NOVI, MI - Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, ranks highest in customer satisfaction among conventional cab medium-duty trucks in its second model year of producing the vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study (SM).

The study, now in its 16th year, measures customer perceptions of 2006 model-year Class 5, 6 and 7 commercial vehicles, and provides manufacturers with a comprehensive and objective measure of customer satisfaction with the product, dealer service and parts. The study also provides information regarding loyalty and brand image.

Within the conventional cab truck segment, four factors are measured to determine overall satisfaction. In order of importance, they are: vehicle performance; quality; warranty; and cost of ownership. The study also measures satisfaction with services received from authorized truck dealer service departments by examining six factors: dealer facility; service quality; service delivery; service initiation; service advisor; and price.

Hino improves notably from 2007 in each of the four factors and performs particularly well in the quality and warranty factors. Hino completely switched its model lineup from cab-over to conventional-cab trucks starting with the 2005 model year. Peterbilt closely follows Hino in the rankings, while Chevrolet, Freightliner, GMC Trucks, Sterling and Kenworth, respectively, also rank above the segment average.

Chevrolet ranks highest in customer satisfaction with dealer service for a third consecutive year, performing particularly well in all six factors. Hino follows Chevrolet in the rankings, performing well in the service quality, service delivery, service initiation and service advisor factors.

Sterling and GMC Trucks, respectively, also rank above the industry average.