The COVID-19 pandemic has muddied that decision even further as it has become even more difficult to determine long-term implications of a purchase. Nowhere is this clearer than with residual values, which are one of the key factors in the... read more

July 2020

The first step in developing a long-term equipment financing strategy is to identify all of the fixed and variable costs associated with operating your current fleet. In other words, what is your current total cost of operation? A spend analysis... read more

October 2019

Asset sale lease-backs are not a new idea. However, it is an idea that makes good sense today. But before we get into why this strategy works to your advantage, given current market conditions, let’s go over some basics. The... read more

February 2019

In a rapidly changing market where we see wild swings in financial markets, the political landscape changing worldwide, oil production through the roof and the U.S. Federal Reserve increasing interest rates, how should we adjust our asset financing structures to... read more

January 2019

There is no arguing that the pace at which change is occurring is quicker than it has ever been before. It used to be that when new technology was introduced it was on the market for some time before it... read more

October 2018

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) recently identified the Top 10 equipment acquisition trends for 2018. I’d like to add my comments to some of what they said. According to the ELFA, tax reform will help unleash pent-up demand... read more

March 2018

As we kick off the New Year, we are faced with sweeping changes in both the tax system and equipment technology. If you have not already evaluated how these changes will affect your business, now is the time to do... read more

January 2018

When you think about putting together a finance structure that accommodates changes in the economy, there are a number of factors you need to take into consideration. Those include asset cost, equipment specification trends, used asset values, inflation, changes in... read more

September 2017

Considering the rapid pace of technology in our industry, replacing an asset based on gut feel or even historic patterns is no longer an efficient strategy. Equipment purchasers operating on the principle of inertia are deluding themselves if they are... read more

June 2017

Election season shines the spotlight on a wide variety of issues as both parties lay out their platforms on everything from jobs and voting rights to education and national security. They also take positions on infrastructure and transportation, which is... read more

September 2016

For businesses needing to make investments in new assets, a flexible long-term planned approach will help ensure that the best, most cost-effective decisions are made every time. The first step in any financial plan covering asset purchases is to determine... read more

June 2016

When you talk about asset trade cycles, fuel efficiency is typically one of the top considerations. As a result of recent gains in fuel economy, many fleets have started to base their trade cycles on fuel economy alone. And while... read more

When a disproportionate number of new units enter a fleet over a very short period of time, it can throw off the balance of older models and new in terms of average fleet age. This can lead to inconsistent and... read more

Feb 2015

Although the transportation trade media has been reporting for months that trucking capacity is nearly maxed out, a recent survey by CK Commercial Vehicle Research (CKCVR) confirms it. Current fleet utilization rates indicate there is little capacity for new freight,... read more

Sep 2014

Every well-run business systematically surveys and interprets relevant data to identify internal and external strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. But what is a company to do — especially one in the commercial trucking industry — when nearly every data point... read more