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Sales increasing after summer lull
Page 73
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USED TRUCK SALES are booming again after the traditional summer lull. "We've seen a definite increase in enquiry levels," says David Griffiths, sales manager at Rowley Regis, West Midlands independent dealership Brandrick Commercials.
Andy Mackay, used vehicle sales manager at Manchester Daf dealership Chatfields, echoes that view: "Things are perking up, and we're hoping the rest of this autumn will be very busy.As a consequence, we're buying in a bit of stock."
And Phil Holmes, group used sales director at Burton-on-Trent Scania dealership East Midland Commercials, rernarks:"It's reasonably buoyant -I wouldn't knock it at all."
Long waiting lists for new trucks are boosting demand for late-registered used vehicles,says Tim Hodgson, sales manager at Eye, Suffolk independent dealership Roy Humphrey. "Getting the right stock isn't easy, though,he adds. So what's selling? "We're moving a lot of 7.5-tonners, and the Mercedes Atego 815 is proving to be especially popular," says Griffiths."A lot of what we've been selling has been Y and 51registered.We're now looking for 52-registered examples, with GRP box vans with tail lifts in particular demand.We've sold two or three 7.5-tonne removal vans as well, not to mention one or two car transporters."
There's interest in specialist rigid chassis higher up the weight scale too. "If I had 10 hook-lift chassis I could sell them immediately," says Nick Mather, sales specialist at Manchester Foden distributor Aquila.
When it comes to tractor units, operators' hunger for big cabs and powerful engines continues unabated. "We've sold six Actros Megaspace units over the past three weeks, all at either 430hp or 530hp," says Ian Hamilton, used sales manager at Peterborough Mercedes-Benz dealership Intercounty Truck and Van. That's not to say that there's no demand at all for smaller units -Dafs CF85 is much sought after, but it's got to have the Spacecab," says Matt Hammond,used vehicle sales manager at dealership Harris Daf of West Thurrock, Essex. "It's also got to have 430hp on tap."
"I'm selling a lot more R cab 4 Series tractors at 380hp than I was 12 months ago," says Holmes.
"Back then, a lot of operators were worried that they wouldn't be suitable for use at 44 tonnes in fact, one or two were convinced that you couldn't legally operate at that weight with a 380hp enginebut attitudes are changing.They are fine for 44-tonne work, and I think that we're succeeding in getting that message across."
"Margins are as good as they were a year ago," Grifliths adds. Hammond agrees, but he believes prices have dipped a little.
And Hamilton remarks: "I reckon prices have firmed up, and are better than they were 12 months ago.
"As for margins, they're quite reasonable and where 1 want them to be... if! could keep them at this level for the next 12 months, then I'd be very happy."