Is the Work Truck Market About to Explode? Industry Insider Breakdown

Описание: In this episode of The Hot Topic Podcast, Patrick sits down with Beau Lafferty, General Manager of OEM Systems and a lifelong leader in the automotive and commercial truck industry.

Beau shares his incredible journey — from working as a carpenter out of a service truck to becoming a dealership general manager, and ultimately helping lead one of the most respected upfitting and bailment pool operations in the country.

We dive into the realities of today’s commercial truck market, including:

🚛 The challenges of forecasting demand and managing long lead times
📉 Why 2025 felt like an “extended pause” for the industry
📦 Inventory struggles for dealers and upfitters alike
⚙️ The complexity of coordinating chassis, equipment, and manufacturer schedules
👷 The growing technician shortage and workforce development needs

Beau also discusses why he’s running for a seat on the NTEA Board of Directors, and his passion for bringing the next generation into the work truck and commercial vehicle space.

This conversation is packed with insight for anyone in fleet, commercial sales, upfitting, manufacturing, or the broader work truck industry.

⭐ Topics Covered

Commercial truck industry outlook for 2026

Bailment pools and upfitting growth strategies

Relationship-based selling vs. retail selling

The importance of communication with fleet customers

Why the work truck industry needs more young professionals

Beau’s vision for the future through NTEA leadership

📅 Important Note

Beau is a nominee for the NTEA Board of Directors, with voting closing Monday, January 9th.

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