Truck Makers Say Strong Demand May Boost 2007 Sales

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AS VEGAS — North America's largest truck makers told fleet owners that introduction of the next generation of cleaner-burning diesel engines may not disrupt the market as much as had been feared.

The executives, at an Oct. 6 panel at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition, said their inability to meet all the demand for new trucks between now and when the next engines appear in 2007 may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

This shortfall may "drive more customers into 2007," said Paul Vikner, president of Mack Trucks.

Peter Karlsten, president of Volvo Trucks North America, agreed, saying "2007 may not be the big 'cliff event' we feared."

The five panel members — who run all eight of North America’s heavy-duty truck makers — said they were still concerned that fleets might freeze their purchases of trucks with those new engines once they are introduced in January 2007, but urged fleets not to.

For the full story, see the Oct. 11 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.