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Smith Bros snaps up fleets
Page 73
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WIDNES-BASED independent dealer Smith BrOthers is in the market for fleets of good qu lity trucks and trailers from hauliers who are either cutting back or shutting up shop.
"We've bought one or two small fleets over the years, but last November we bought JD Crawford's," says Steve Smith."It included 80 trailers and tractors the latter were a mixture of Mercedes,Dafs, Scanias,Volvos, and MANs a d we've now moved most of them on.
" was a bit worried about the Mercedes traltors as it's not a make we're known for, but we've only got four out of the 12 Actros units we acquired left, and we reckon we can get rid of them reasonably quickly," he adds."We've also still got a few of the older trailers."
The firm is also selling a small number of new and unregistered trucks,mainly the latest Scania R Series.The move has ruffled a few feathers, but Smith is unrepentant:"We're not doing anything wrong and I can't see why some people are getting so upset about it.All we're doing is putting our toe in the water, and I doubt we'll do more than half a dozen a year."