Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
In the Marketplace
In a recent forecast, R. L. Polk & Co., a Southfield, MI based automotive information and marketing solutions provider, concluded that while the commercial vehicle market will begin growing again in 2010, volumes will still be significantly below 2005-2007 levels through 2013.
According to Polk, in 2006, commercial vehicle registrations reached their peak volume of 802,100, with 448,200 heavy trucks (GVW 6-8) and 353,900 medium trucks (GVW 3-5). Last year, however, the total commercial vehicle registration volume fell to 485,000. Continued economic difficulties have resulted in a forecasted volume of 380,600 in 2009. As the economy recovers after a projected “bottoming out” of the housing market in July 2009, commercial vehicle sales are expected to trend upward. By 2013, total commercial vehicle registrations are expected to hit 583,900 (approximately 317,000 GVW 3-5 and 267,000 GVW 6-8 vehicles), still well below pre-2008 volumes.
From 2008 to 2009, the total number of commercial vehicles on the road (Vehicles in Operation ' VIO) is expected to increase slightly from 11.8 to 11.9 million, topping the 12 million mark in 2011. The total number of VIO has risen each year since 2004, and this trend is expected to continue through 2013. However, growth in VIO has slowed due to the decrease in new vehicle registrations. One trend is that the percentage of total commercial truck VIO made up of heavy trucks (GVW 6-8) has been on the decline, while the percentage of medium trucks (GVW 3-5) has been increasing. Medium trucks have increased from 38.6% of the total in 2004 to 41.6% in 2008, with a projected increase by 2013 to almost 45% of the total volume of commercial vehicles on the road. In fact, from 2009 to 2013, heavy trucks are expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (“CAGR”) of just 0.3%, compared with a growth rate of 3.1% for medium trucks. The higher growth rate of the broad category of medium trucks (GVW 3-5) over heavy trucks (GVW 6-8) is largely due to the decline in registrations of new GVW 8 trucks and the increase in GVW 3 vehicles. Through 2006, class 8 vehicles were the largest class in the commercial vehicle market. However, government-mandated rules to decrease diesel emissions have led to significant price increases for GVW 8 vehicles, and a decline in new class 8 vehicle registration. Since 2007, class 3 trucks have made up the largest segment of new commercial vehicle registration, a trend that is expected to continue. To view the full report, visit www.polk.com/TL/PV_200907_Issue010_CVMkt.pdf.
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.