2020 the year that was. For many individuals and businesses 31 December 2020 couldn't come fast enough. At least calendar-wise and somewhat theoretically, an opportunity to put the horrors of the coronavirus pandemic into the past. For realists, it’s not a change of date that makes the difference to the ‘times’. It is actions that can make a difference. A vaccine on the horizon for starters! We wrap 2020 with a whip around of truck industry news and signs of the ‘good’ for 2021.
Road Signs
For many interstate and long distance transport operators a great outcome for the start of 2021 would the action of ending the open/closed state borders. This would definitely be a welcome sign of easier business operations and conditions.
More ‘good’ signs is the significant infrastructure spends being undertaken by state, territory and Federal Government. The upgrades to key transport links and corridors can represent efficiency wins for many operators while the amount of construction projects can mean lots more work. Excavators, road builders, concretors and others in the building and construction sector should have reason to be optimistic.
Sales Stats
The truck sales figures to September were recently released, providing an overall picture on the market from January to September 2020. According to the figures released by the Truck Industry Council TMARK, overall figures were down around 10% on the same period on 2019. But despite the issues around COVID-19, sales are better than some industry observers expected. No doubt as a result of the surge in online sales and deliveries, the light duty market was the better performing sector with sales growth reported over several recent months.
So which manufacturers lead the truck sales market so far this year? Looking at the year to date figures covering January through to September 2020:-
- Overall truck sales in numbers of units sold: Isuzu, Hino, Fuso, Volvo and Kenworth.
- Heavy duty class: Volvo, Kenworth, Isuzu, Scania and Mercedes-Benz
- Medium duty category: Isuzu, Hino, Fuso, MAN and Iveco
- Light duty class: Isuzu, Hino, Fuso, Iveco and Fiat
Several manufacturers including Fuso are having a 2020 plate clearance. So if you want to get in for a great price vehicle, call Jade for a quote and a pre-approved truck loan.
Award Signals
End of each year is traditionally awards seasons in many industries and the trucking sector is no different. Trucksales recently unveiled the finalists in the 2021 Safety and Innovation Awards. Despite the massive disruption to operations both locally and internationally, many manufacturers of both trucks and components still managed to launch great products in 2020.
The finalists include:-
- The DAF 2020 models CF and XF
- Freightliner Cascadia, particularly noted for fuel efficiency
- Hino 300 Series, noted for safety
As well as several initiatives and programs in the areas of safety and innovation. We’ll keep an eye out for the announcement of the winners in 2021. Meanwhile, if you’re motivated to invest in a one of the finalist vehicles, check our Truck Loan Calculator to see how Jade can assist with a cheap loan.
Finance Signs and Supports
Throughout 2020 and as we have done for many years, Jade continued to support truck owners and transport operators with cheap truck finance to assist them invest and grow their businesses. Fortunately it looks like one of the great things of 2020, historic low interest rates, will continue into 2021. Great news if you’ve been delaying that new truck to see how your business situation would ‘play out’. Use our Truck Loan Calculator to work out rough repayment estimates for as many trucks as you like. This is a great tool to plan how you would like your loan structured. Vary the balloon/residual, loan term and loan amount to see how the repayments change.
In our commitment to stand by our customers, we've enhanced our online presence by providing an array of new resources on our website. It's designed to be a comprehensive, self-serve hub for truck loan planning tools and pertinent information catering to the wider business community, and especially to those in the transport sector.
One of the latest additions is our new Comparison Calculator, which has been instrumental for many of our users. On this platform, we've detailed the interest rates we're currently securing across various finance products. By simply entering the desired loan amount and term, users can instantly gauge the repayment scenarios across different loan types. While we staunchly recommend that our customers seek advice from their accountant regarding loan product selection, this tool serves as a valuable preliminary resource.
Moreover, to ensure our clientele is always in the loop with current economic and transport industry trends, we regularly update our articles library. Our dedicated team curates and disseminates a plethora of information, offering insights into intricate budget announcements and various stimulus measures.
Additionally, for those looking into Truck Refinancing, we have a dedicated section providing detailed information and guidance, ensuring you make well-informed decisions tailored to your specific financial needs.
If you want to start 2021 in a positive gear with a new truck, give us a call for a quote on heavy vehicle loans. Our Jade consultants will work with you to deliver a cost-effective loan package to support your business operation.
For a cheap truck finance deal to set you up for a great 2021, contact Jade Truck Loans on 1300 000 003.
DISCLAIMER: THE DETAILS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE NOT INTENDED AS THE SOLE SOURCE OR AS ADVICE IN REGARD TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION BUT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES ONLY. PERSONS REQUIRING ADVICE ON THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION ARE DIRECTED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. NO LIABILITY IS ACCEPTED FOR ERRORS OR MISINTERPRETATIONS IN THE INFORMATION AS PRESENTED. THE DATA AND DETAILS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN SOURCED IN PART FROM THIRD PARTY SOURCES.
