VMAC has released its 2026 State of the Mobile Compressed Air Industry Report, offering a snapshot of the trends, technology preferences, and business concerns shaping the mobile compressed air market across North America.
Founded in 1986, VMAC is a manufacturer of mobile compressed air equipment headquartered in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. The company designs and produces air compressors, multi-power systems, and related mobile power solutions for service trucks and vocational vehicles operating in a variety of industries.
The annual report surveyed a broad cross-section of industry professionals, including business owners, general managers, fleet managers, mechanics, equipment repair specialists, construction professionals, agricultural operators, utility organizations, municipalities, transportation companies, and service truck upfitters.
According to the report, the industry remains focused on practical growth and operational efficiency. While economic conditions have emerged as the leading concern among respondents, business sentiment has improved compared to the previous year.
VMAC reported that 90 percent of respondents expect economic conditions to remain stable or improve during the next 12 months, up from 82 percent in 2025.
“The industry continues to prioritize uptime and productivity above all else,” explained Mike Pettigrew, VMAC Marketing Manager. “Fleet operators are carefully evaluating every piece of equipment on a truck based on reliability, weight, efficiency and long-term operating costs. The 2026 findings show that operators are increasingly choosing integrated rotary screw compressed air systems that help maximize productivity while reducing downtime.”
Service vehicles continue to play a significant role in field operations, with more than 76 percent of respondents operating service trucks or vans.
The findings also underscore the importance of air compressors in mobile work environments. More than 35 percent of respondents identified the air compressor as the single most important piece of equipment on their service vehicle, while 45.8 percent reported having air compressors installed on every service truck in their fleet.
Technology preferences remain consistent, with more than 73 percent of air compressor users favoring rotary screw compressors over reciprocating models. In addition, more than 78 percent of respondents said their service vehicle applications require less than 100 cfm, reflecting the needs of many maintenance, repair, and field-service operations.
The report also found that pneumatic tools continue to be heavily relied upon. Approximately 86 percent of respondents use pneumatic impact wrenches, making them the most common compressed-air-powered tool, followed by ratchets, grinders, and percussive equipment.
Across industries ranging from transportation and construction to agriculture and utilities, compressed air remains a critical resource for tire service, equipment maintenance, and repair work where dependable airflow and tool performance are required.
The 2026 State of the Mobile Compressed Air Industry Report is designed to help fleet operators, manufacturers, upfitters and equipment suppliers compare their operations with industry peers and better understand the technologies, purchasing priorities and business pressures influencing the mobile compressed air market.
The complete report is available free through VMAC’s State of the Industry webpage at www.vmacair.com/survey.