Digital Auto Care Factbook & Lang Annual 2017 - 48

MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCK INDUSTRY
The auto care industry's medium and heavy-duty segment includes parts, accessories, non-warranty service repair and
maintenance for commercial, industrial and agricultural vehicles falling within weight classes four through eight. Usage of these
vehicles and their demand for replacement parts is strongly connected to the fortunes of the U.S. economy. As demand for
goods and services grows, so does movement of raw materials and finished goods; making good on the old metaphor that over
the road commercial trucks are the lifeblood carrying essentials of society along America's arteries.
In 2009, our predictive index was recalibrated to more closely correlate to miles driven for these classes of vehicles. The resulting
baseline revealed the close correlation between medium and heavy-duty auto care sales, miles traveled, tonnage hauled, tires
replaced and more. The recession years of 2008 and 2009, as well as the beginnings of recovery signaled in 2010, reveal the
inter-relationships.
For 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) updated its data to be registrations-based and made fleet-appropriate
adjustments to its vehicle classes. For continuity, DOT also published corresponding historical data updates. In this edition of the
Factbook, appropriate historical updates have been applied where sales figures transitioned to registration-based data and/or
where weight classes were recalibrated.
Our latest forecast for the period from 2016 to 2019 correlates with the continued economic recovery and anticipates a growth
trend that is also predicted to benefit the light vehicle automotive care industry, as discussed in earlier sections.

Single Unit and Combination Truck
Miles Driven, 2005-2014 (Millions of Miles)
(1)

Medium and Heavy Duty Industry Sales
(Billions of Retail Dollars)

$110
$94.5

$100
$76.5

$80
$69.0 $68.0

$70.6

300,000

$91.4

$73.9

310,680
288,005 286,585

284,863

275,018 279,132
267,207 268,318

240,000
220,000

# Estimate
* Forecast
Historical data have been revised.

2016*

2017*

2018*

2019*

Source: Auto Care Association

Sales and Shipments of Truck Replacement
Tires and Retreads, 2005-2015
17.8
16.7

17

$7
15.5

$6

15.3

$5

14.9

14.3

$4

16

15.6
14.8

14.8

$3
$2
$1
$0

15
14

$7.1

$7.5

$7.3

$7.4

$5.8

$6.9

$3.8

$3.4

$3.7

$4.7

$3.4

13

12.5

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Tire & Retread Sales
(Left Axis)

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Definitions: (1) Single-Unit - single frame trucks that have 2-Axles and at least 6 tires
or a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 lbs.
(2) Combination Trucks - Prior criteria used description: "Heavy Duty
Trucks" to capture this class of vehicle.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation / Highway Statistics

Moving Total compared to same month of previous year)

18

17.6

$8

2005

Truck Tonnage Analysis (percent change in 12- Month

Shipments (In Millions)

$9

200,000

12

Tire Shipments
(Right Axis)

Note:
Historical data have been revised.
Sources: Auto Care Association, Modern Tire Dealer's January 2016 Facts Issue

9.0
Tire Shipments 7.0
5.9
(right axis)
5.8
5.0
Tire & Retread Sales
(left axis)
3.0

5.9 5.9 5.9
4.6
5.6 5.5 5.3
4.9

4.5 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.4 4.4 4.1

4.1
3.7

1.0

3.9 3.8 3.4
2.9

2.6

-1.0
-3.0
-5.0
-7.0
-9.0
-11.0

Jan-14
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan-15
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2008# 2009# 2010# 2011# 2012# 2013# 2014# 2015*

Note:

Sales (In Billions)

304,178

260,000

$50

48

300,639

280,000

$78.8 $81.5

$60

$40

320,000

% Change in Truck Tonage Index

$70

$88.6

$85.1

$90

$97.9

(2)

Truck Tonnage
Sources: Auto Care Industry Indicators Report, American Trucking Associations

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Auto Care Factbook & Lang Annual 2017
