WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE HAULAGE INDUSTRY?
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Acquire new equipment in 2010 to stay ahead of the curve Perhaps the greatest irony in this sorry mess is that, for Ihe trucking industry. 2010 is the year in which vehicle acquisition should be a must. Despite the best efforts of ACEA (European Automotive Manufacturers' Association) and its component OEMs, the likelihood of a Euro-6 deferral seems remote at best. Practical considerations rarely trump political expediency, and so the truck operator will be faced with a new set of emissions legislation during 2013. This will cost a lot more (think 20%) and be much less efficient than Euro-5. As such, the smart move would be to replace during 2010 and then during 2013; get ahead of the game and adopt a holding pattern.
It's a lovely idea, but one that is likely to prove impractical during 2010. As such, while truck registrations should rise over the next 12 months, they are likely to stay, at best, static. And if they fall, we would not be in the least bit surprised. We, the UK, are in a very precarious, previously unexplored place. It remains to be seen if we can emerge intact.