���ϳԹ���

October 11, 2000 10:16 AM, EDT

Shorter hauls and different freight — two of the dynamics that differentiate the medium- from heavy-duty truck operations — are also key reasons the medium-duty vehicles — Classes 5-7 — have not had the severe drop in sales the heavy truck manufacturers have seen this year.

Sales of all medium-duty vehicles, including trucks, buses and chassis, should drop about 6%, to 225,700 units, this year. That’s a “soft landing,” said Eli S. Lustgarten, managing director of H. C. Wainwright & Co., investment analysts headquartered in Boston.

Next year’s sales may drop again, to about 205,000 units, before starting to increase again in 2002, Lustgarten told members of the National Truck Equipment Association on Sept. 17. Members of the organization are body manufacturers, truck accessory suppliers and upfitters, companies that install bodies and components on truck chassis.

About 95% of the midrange market’s business moves less than 100 miles, and bulk materials make up about two-thirds of the freight, explained Lustgarten. As a result, a weakening in the demand for these trucks due to higher interest rates, higher fuel prices and a general slowing of the domestic economy will be offset.

For the full story, see the Oct. 9 print edition of Transport Topics. .