Used truck shortage 5

19th April 2007, Page 95

19th April 2007

Page 95

Page 95, 19th April 2007 — Used truck shortage 5

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LEURO

own to operators'

luctance to adopt new technology is to blame for a shortage of used et vehicles, says a leading auction house. Kevin Swallow reports.

n initial reluctance by UK operators to pay the premium for Euro-4/5 trucks has led to a gap in the supply of clef, eted vehicles.

at's the opinion of Fleet Auction Group's co ercial sales director Mike Gray. Although now mandatory, says Gray, when Euro-4/5 and digital tachograph models were optional UK operators shunned them because of the higher initial purchase prices.

"The cleanliness cost involved with Euro-4/5, in terms of exhaust gas recirculation, with the need for engine additives on some marques, meant that vehicles were costing more to buy and operate," he says.

Few defleeted Euro-3 trucks

"The reluctance by UK fleet operators to move to these new technologies before having to do so has led to a dearth in supply of deflected vehicles with the older Euro-3 technology.

"The reluctance was particularly apparent among hire companies, which felt they could not guarantee rental customers would always put in the additives where required," he says.

It was also the case among the bigger leasing companies, resulting in a lack of vehicles coming off fleet, says Gray.

The situation, he adds, was exacerbated by CV producers that allocated batches of manufacturing to other parts of the world, leading to vastly extended lead times for UK customers. •