Commercial Truck Trader crunched its user search data and revealed the most popular commercial trucks and truck brands for the year 2022. Rounding out the top five commercial trucks were: 1) Freightliner M2 106, 2) Ford F-550, 3) Ford F-350, 4) Freightliner Cascadia 125, and 5) Ford F-650. The top truck brands for 2022 were: 1) Ford, 2) Freightliner, 3) Chevrolet, 4) International, and 5) Ram. Here to share more is Commercial Truck Trader’s Charles Bowles.
MWS: WHAT FACTORS AND SHOPPER DESIRES CONTRIBUTED TO THE LIST OF MOST POPULAR COMMERCIAL TRUCKS OF 2022?
BOWLES: The list of most popular commercial trucks of 2022 was curated based on our marketplace search data. The top units were those that appeared in consumer searches the most, based on users’ search criteria. Each search is distinct, based on that shopper’s needs. Generally, consumers look for mileage, condition, technology, and fuel efficiency, among other factors.
MWS: TWO MANUFACTURERS DOMINATE THE LIST OF TOP FIVE MOST SEARCHED TRUCKS. WHY DO YOU THINK FORD AND FREIGHTLINER ARE SO POPULAR AMONG THE COMMERCIAL FLEET CROWD?
BOWLES: Ford and Freightliner are not only very recognizable names to shoppers in the commercial truck industry but also popular brands for dealers to list on CommercialTruckTrader.com. So, it’s not a shock to see them dominate the list. As leaders in the manufacturer space, they also have vehicles that include some of the top features consumers are looking for such as fuel efficiency and safety features.
MWS: WHAT FACTORS HAVE PLAYED INTO THE RANKINGS OF THE MOST POPULAR BRANDS FOR 2022?
BOWLES: Brand awareness is a significant factor in driving buyer affinity. For instance, Ford has been a commercial vehicle leader for nearly 50 years, serving Classes 1-7. Like Ford, Freightliner has been a market leader for many years, as well as Chevrolet and International. The Ram brand, which is relatively new, has made dramatic gains in share over the past five years as it has developed a strong commercial sales and service organization. Awareness works hand in hand in building brand trust, which directly correlates to popularity.
MWS: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT DRAWS CONSUMERS AND COMMERCIAL FLEET OWNERS TO THE FORD BRAND YEAR AFTER YEAR?
BOWLES: Ford has focused its efforts on commercial vehicles. Its vertical integration and strong commercial sales and service programs are tailored to commercial vehicle buyers. Additionally, as we mentioned in our article, Ford trucks are built with efficiency in mind. In fact, Ford’s pickup trucks are among some of the most reliable options for drivers and have a broad variety of upfit, truck, and trailer types to withstand most commercial jobs.
MWS: ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE PLACEMENT OF ANY OF THESE TRUCKS OR BRANDS IN THE TOP FIVE LISTS? DID YOU EXPECT TO SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT FOR 2022?
BOWLES: There weren’t really any surprises, per se, but trucks are so well-built nowadays that it’s hard to make a bad choice. Depending on what a user is searching for, there are other popular brands that will show up in more specialized vocational categories, such as Isuzu and Mack. Both of which are highly sought after for job-specific applications.
MWS: WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR TOP FIVE TRUCKS AND TOP FIVE TRUCK BRANDS FOR 2023?
BOWLES: Generally speaking, the top brands are likely to remain the same in 2023. One interesting variable that could dramatically add share to a brand will be its electric vehicle offerings. Commercial EVs, particularly those associated with specific vocations, such as buses and delivery trucks, are gaining substantial traction at the fleet and municipality levels. Ford’s E-Transit Van and International’s eMV Series have the potential to gobble up some additional shares.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Charles Bowles is the director of OEM and strategic initiatives at Trader Interactive. To view Commercial Truck Trader’s Top 5 lists and find out more, visit www.commercialtrucktrader.com.
