As we have come to expect in the past 20 years, Isuzu continued to dominate the truck market and appear to be winning a larger market share again this year. They are now standing at a figure of 27% of all trucks sold in 2010, so far. Up from the 25% they were holding onto at this time last year.

The latest sales figures issued by the Truck Industry Council for trucks sold in February 2010 appear to show the industry in a holding pattern. The tax incentives available in 2009 appeared to stimulate some extra demand later in the year and give some truck manufacturers a little joy in what had been a very tough year. This year’s market may not be that much higher in actual figures but the numbers are holding up without a stimulation package and market sentiment is reported to be more optimistic than pessimistic.

The figures for the heavy duty market have a familiar look with Kenworth continuing to hold on firmly to the number one slot as their figures start to rise once again after a very flat 2009. Western Star have again started the year well, outperforming their close rivals at Volvo, Freightliner, Isuzu, Mack and Iveco for the first two months of the year. Scania, who are notoriously slow starters on an annual basis, have managed to continue the gains in market share they created for themselves in the later months of 2009.

The medium duty sector has seen an increasing stranglehold on truck sales by the four Japanese manufacturers during the global financial crisis and 2010 seems to be following the same pattern. Competition between the Japanese importers remains fierce and it would appear Hino and Fuso have managed to claw back some of the market share they lost to the market leader, Isuzu, last year. In February Hino captured 26.4% of truck sales in the medium duty sector and Fuso 20.1%.

Sales of trucks in the light duty sector appeared to be picking up quite strongly in the early months of 2010. Isuzu continued to strengthen their already dominant position and are holding at a 45% market share for the year so far. Meanwhile, in the van sector Mercedes-Benz appear to have recovered their dominance of the market after a period when Ford appeared to be winning a large number of sales from them.

The event saw all of the usual discussions coming up and it just wouldn’t be the same without a representative of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority up on stage and getting enraged questions from the floor from frustrated operators. However, the chain of responsibilty seemed to be a part of many discussions as the trucking industry is starting to get a handle on how to use it for trucking’s benefit.

etruck has spent the day test driving Scania trucks fitted with the new two pedal Opticruise automated gearbox. The test track in Anglesea on the Victorian coast is not really big or rigourous enough to really get a handle on the new gearbox but the changes seem to be very quick and smooth when compared to it’s predecessor, which was pretty slick.

Testing included a competition involving reversing over a corrugated onto a lump of timber and getting the rear wheel centred on the timber. Easier said than done but the new manoeuvring mode makes it a lot more possible to reverse with care.