Rouse reports growing fleet utilisation

Rouse Analytics' February report indicates that utilisation of access fleets in North America has increased in the latter part of 2011, used equipment prices are up and rental rates are increasing slightly.

Utilisation for telescopic booms increased from 68.2% to 71.9% between May and November 2011 with a peak in October. For articulating booms the pattern was similar with increases from 67.3% to 72.8%. Utilisation for scissors in the same period stayed fairly static with a slight rise from 64.7% to 66%.

The average age of articulating booms in the North American fleets is 53.4 months, scissors 57.5 months and telescopic booms 57.8 months.

Rouse also reported a large increase in the OLV (orderly liquidation value) of used equipment in the aerial work platform sector in the six months from July 2011 to January 2012. Articulating boom prices were up 11.6%, scissor lifts were up 10.7% and telescopic booms up 7%. The average selling ages are 89 months, 84 months and 102 months respectively.

Rental rates for the same period increased a little with articulating booms showing the highest growth at 1.8%.