Cautiously Optimistic, Rusty Rush Looks Ahead
Rusty Rush predicts “headwinds” with electric trucks, but thinks they will start to become commonplace in a couple years’ time. Photo: Jack Roberts
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Looking back on 2017, Rusty Rush sees a year of broad-based, consistent growth. And the chairman and CEO of Rush Truck Sales, says he’s mildly surprised by that result.
Speaking to a group of journalists ahead of the 2017 Rush Technician Rodeo in San Antonio, on Dec. 12, Rush noted that overall Class 8 sales are projected to wrap up at around 197,000 units for the year, which he says is an uptick of 25-30% from initial projections. “We’ve seen excellent numbers from our perspective,” Rush said. “That includes International, Peterbilt, Isuzu, and Hino. So I feel good about where we’ve been, and as good as it’s possible for me to feel in December. All in all, I’m cautiously optimistic looking ahead into next year.”
Looking at overall industry trends today, Rush said he firmly believes electric trucks are coming, and that electronic logging devices will be a technology enabler for the industry as well.
“I think we will see electric trucks, but they’re going to be more on the medium-duty and P&D side of the business,” Rush said. “I think we’re still 2 or 3 years away from seeing them in substantial numbers. And we’re probably 10 to 15 years away from seeing any significant presence in the long-haul, Class 8 markets. There will be some headwinds with electric trucks. But I think they will eventually just be a part of an OEM’s product offerings alongside diesel and natural gas units. But I think we’ll learn how to sell and service them as dealers.”
Rush is also pragmatic about ELDs noting that they will be technology and maintenance enablers when tied in with telematics and diagnostic systems. “They’re going to work …Read the rest of this story
