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Trailers are too ta to se
Page 67
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High demand across Europe for used trailers under 4.2m tall is resulting in a surplus of taller stock in the UK. Kevin Swallow reports.
Former Eastern Bloc countries are snapping up used Schmitz Cargobull trailers, raising premiums on trailers built to the European specification.This is leaving the UK market with excessive numbers of trailers over 4.5m tall.
Derek Wright, MD of Al Schmitz Cargobull's UK used trailer centre, says the legislation change allowing British operators to run trailers at 4.5m and above dramatically reduced domestic sales of new 4.0m-high curtainsiders, tilts and Euroliner trailers.
When they do crop up on the used market., overseas buyers are willing to pay over the odds to secure these trailers—about 60% of stock is exported. "When it comes to good-quality used equipment, trailers built to 4.0 and 4.2m specification are scarce in the UK.'' he reports. "There is a limited export market for trailers of 4.5m and over: generally these products get resold in the UK or are cut down to make flatbed trailers and exported — often to the Far East."
As a result, demand for used Schmitz Cargobull trailers built to the European specification has never been greater. "Schmitz Cargobull has a network of 15 used trailer centres across Europe and they are all working closely together to source stock to ensure that demand is satisfied," says Wright.
He questions whether there is a need for so many 4.5m-plus trailers for domestic hauliers and points out that Schmitz Cargobull has incentives in place to buy lower stock but that it will take three-tofive-years to come through. B