Operators become more 'picky' over mileage
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UK TRUCK operators have become extraordinarily mileage sensitive, says Paul Prewett, used truck sales specialist at East of England Scania dealership Ro-Truck.
-A four-year-old used tractor unit must have covered no more than 525.000-530,000km," explains Prewett.
lilt's done 599,995km, they might just be persuaded to have it, but if it's got 600,000km recorded then they won't want to know, even though that's nothing on a 12-litre engine.
-So far as three-year-old units are concerned, the limit is 400.000-420,000km."
Increasingly, too, they don't want anything that carries an X or Y registration plate, Prewett adds. "It's got to heat least a 51,a 52. or an '02."
Getting newer stock can be a struggle though, particularly when most customers aren't prepared to look at tractors with less than 400hp on tap, he says. "A 380hp Scania is as good a servant as you're ever going to get, but so far as many operators are concerned it's 20hp short.
As far as rigids are concerned, there is plenty of interest in 26-tonners, says Prewett, and in 18-tonne curtainsiders with sleeper cabs and tail lifts. "Even box-bodied 18-tormers will sell if they've got sleepers, but it's a price-driven market," he comments.