Construction, oil/gas/energy and trucks/trailers are the hottest equipment sectors of 2014, according to a survey of 100 asset managers and consultants to be released at the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s 26th Annual Equipment Management Conference, Feb. 23-25 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. The 2014 “What’s Hot/What’s Not” Equipment Leasing Trends Survey, which reveals industry perceptions of 15 equipment markets, is a highlight of the annual conference for equipment management professionals.

This year marks the fourth year in a row of positive results for the “What’s Hot/What’s Not” Equipment Leasing Trends Survey, following two consecutive years of very negative findings. According to industry veteran Carl Chrappa, who conducted the survey, the results indicate that many equipment types have hit or passed inflection points after showing steady improvement over time, and much of the volatility within the industry has decreased. Chrappa predicts that the volume of equipment leased in 2014 will increase, but notes that threats to the secondary market remain, including government regulation, which is the biggest perceived threat identified in the survey. Chrappa will detail the survey results at the Equipment Management Conference General Session on Monday, Feb. 24, at 9:15am.

Other highlights at the Equipment Management Conference will include:

• Live, on-site inspections of specialty vehicles, including a backhoe loader, a 53-foot trailer, a fracking rig, two forklifts and an ambulance
• Off-site equipment tours featuring heavy equipment, commercial semi-trailers, material handling equipment, household product packaging equipment and a global data center
• Leadership advice from management guru Garrison Wynn
• An exhibition of equipment appraisers, remarketers and others
• Networking opportunities to help attendees benchmark how their industry peers are positioning for success in 2014
• The conference qualifies for ASA re-certification

Education sessions will examine a variety of asset classes and equipment markets. Topics will include:

• Healthcare Equipment Financing and Implications of the Affordable Care Act
• Valuation of Energy Generation Assets in the Age of Shale
• Transportation: View from Inside and Outside the Beltway
• Opportunities in the Railroad Industry
• Information Technology and Copier Market Updates & Trends
• Corporate Aircraft Values: One Step Forward, Five Years Back
• Asset Management Basics
• How to Manage and Work with Outside Appraisers
• Plus, sessions will reveal market trends in construction, material handling, plastics, marine, machine tools,  the domestic intermodal industry and the food processing industry.

The full agenda for the  Equipment Management Conference is available at www.elfaonline.org/events/2014/EMC/

Media Registration: Members of the press who wish to attend should contact Amy Vogt at avogt@elfaonline.org.