New research by the BVRLA and Motor Transport indicates that the commercial vehicle rental and leasing sector is feeling positive about the year ahead.

Early findings from the 2014 CV Informer survey show that 77% of businesses expect the sector to do better this year than it did in 2013, with 20% predicting a similar performance and just 3% expecting conditions to deteriorate.

Confidence levels have risen since the same time last year, when just 50% of the sector expected business conditions to improve and 23% thought they would decline.

The early 2014 CV Informer findings were unveiled during a breakfast briefing at the CV Show at the Birmingham NEC. The event included a special presentation from Sunday Times economics editor David Smith, while BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney outlined some of the association’s current initiatives.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) chose the event to launch its updated Guide to Maintaining Road Worthiness.

“It is great to be able to bring so many leading figures from the industry together and provide them with such a  valuable insight into key market trends and legislative developments,” said Keaney.