Equipment Finance Advisor

June preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales picked up 11% m/m in June, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. “The gain was larger than expected based on historical seasonality, which called for a 2% month over month increase. Auction sales sank 22%, uncharacteristic compared to the normal 35% end-of-quarter surge,” according to Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research.

Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) announced the launch of its Dealer Sentiment and Manufacturer Satisfaction Quarterly Report, a first-of-its-kind report that covers both the agriculture and construction equipment sectors, designed to gauge both overall dealer sentiment of past, current and future market conditions along dealer satisfaction with leading manufacturers across the equipment industry.

First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, and First Carolina Bancshares Corp., the parent company of Carolina Bank & Trust Company, announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which First Bancorp will acquire First Carolina in a stock and cash transaction with an aggregate value of $166 million, based on First Bancorp's stock price of $64.22 as of July 13, 2026.

Regions Bank announced veteran wealth management executive Thom Smith has joined the bank to serve as Regions Private Wealth Management regional executive for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Smith’s move to Regions Bank is part of the company’s strategy for building more Private Wealth Management growth and consistently strengthening client service.

Gordon Brothers provided strategic financing to Birks Group Inc., one of Canada’s premier designers and retailers of fine jewelry, watches and gifts. With more than a century of experience in the jewelry industry, Gordon Brothers partnered with Birks Group to deliver a tailored capital solution that will support the company's growth strategy, providing enhanced liquidity and flexibility as the retailer builds on its strong market position and long-standing heritage.

360 Equipment Finance announced that Chelsea Aponte has joined the company as Contract Manager, bringing extensive experience in equipment finance documentation and contract operations. In her new role, Chelsea will support the company's documentation and contract management processes, helping ensure efficient transactions and a seamless experience for brokers, vendors and customers throughout the funding process.

As the breakneck pace of artificial intelligence and cloud computing compresses corporate hardware lifecycles, traditional equipment financing is undergoing a structural evolution. No longer just a transactional capital mechanism, technology finance has transformed into a critical strategic framework for managing innovation, rapid obsolescence, and global asset management.

Michael Toglia's experience in commercial finance spans over 35 years having held various roles in senior management, business strategy, business origination, capital markets, operations and commercial credit underwriting. Prior to entering the publishing industry, Toglia most recently served as Vice President of Capital Markets and as the National Sales Manager for both the Equipment Finance and Asset-Based Lending Divisions of Textron Financial Corporation.

Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence have released their week 27 Spot Market Overview, indicating broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop.com system fell sharply during the week ended July 10 as van rates settled from big gains during the prior week and flatbed recorded its second largest weekly drop ever. Decreases in spot rates for dry van and refrigerated van equipment were large but in line with their typical patterns for week 27.

Farmer sentiment dropped again in June as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) Index declined from 119 points in May to 113 points in June. The Index of Current Conditions fell by 5 points, while the Index of Future Expectations fell by 7 points. June’s Current Conditions Index was 26 points below its December 2025 reading, reaching its lowest level since December 2024.