Schmitz Cargobull to sell 223 ex-Irlam trailers
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kevin.swallow@rbi.co.uk THE LAST OF THE James Irlam trailers de-leeted by Stobart Group, following its partexchange deal with Schmitz Cargobull for 225 new trailers, are up for sale.
So far, Schmitz Cargobull’s used operation at its regional business centre in Warrington has sold 90 of the 223 ex-Irlam 4.5m-high trailers, which have M+G chassis with Boalloy curtainsider bodies. Stobart Group paid £60m for Irlam in 2008.
Brian Parkinson, Schmitz country manager trailer sales UK, says initial part-exchange stock was built in 2006, while the trailers starting to return now are four years old.
Stobart Group was committed to ensuring that returning assets had a minimum of six months’ MoT, but many have the full year.
“Stobart agreed to return them in a good condition, so we’ll de-logo them, repaint the front and back and sell them,” he adds.
While funding and rising fuel prices are an issue for many hauliers, a good, clean, second-hand trailer at half the price of a new one, he says, means operators can get two for the price of one.
One haulier to take advantage is South Yorkshire-based Ken Mallinson & Sons, which bought 40 ex-Irlam trailers. Ian Egan, business development manager, says it got a good deal on quality refurbished 06-trailers. “To buy new would have been a substantial (inancial) outlay,” he says Parkinson says the Stobart deal is a boost to stock levels, although the part-exchanges were meant to return last year. Schmitz had to deploy 35 ex-MRS Distribution trailers on a short-term rental contract to customers waiting for the de-leeted Irlam trailers.