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CASE STUDY
Page 62
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has been established since 1993 and currently runs six trucks
"We tend to buy at about three to four years into a vehicle's lifespan and run it for another three. By the end, there's still a sufficient value to put down as a deposit for the next truck," says Geoff Smith. He's been in the business for about 40 years and can only recollect new trucks being purchased when he worked for a much larger company "Modern trucks are a lot more reliable than ever before, so you are taking less of a chance when buying a few years in. We've just purchased two used Volvos and they came with a three-month driveline warranty, so any problems that may be hidden should surface during that time, and will of course be covered by the dealer."
One problem he is encountering is availability. The most recent purchase took about six months to track down due to the level of demand in the market. "Everything is being snapped up at the moment In some cases, it's becoming harder to get the model you want. I think people are realising that you don't have to purchase brand new to get a decent truck,'
Smith also believes That while leasing is not for him, it does provide a good supply of nearly-new trucks on the market. "Larger companies will always want new vehicles for their fleet and, as long as that happens, we'll be there to snap them up when they trade them in."