AUCTIONS From driving to forecourt Frank Townsend reckons he has the ideal background for selling used trucks.
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Since February Townsend has worked for Harborne Commercials, the Renault distributors in Wellingborough, Northants. But he drove a truck for 10 years,working for a wide cross-section of transport companies, includ ing London Carriers International, on UK and Continental work.
"As a result I speak the same language as many truck drivers," he says. "And I've learned a bit about all makes—their good points, and their bad ones. I've also learned that truck drivers are generally treated better on the Continent than in the UK. Perhaps it's the camaraderie that exists over the water."
Townsend has wide trade experience too. He's been a service receptionist at a Volvo distributorship, and a bodyshop receptionist at a Ford dealership.
"Estimating repair costs is a useful training when it comes to appraising partexchanges," he says. So what's in demand on the used side at present?
"Anything with specialist equipment, including grabs, hook loaders and skip loaders sells well," he reports. "Used tractive-unit sales are quiet, but vans are moving very well. As Harborne now sells Master vans we're taking a growing number of light commercials in as partexchanges. And how does Townsend like to spend his time away from the industry? "Flying," he replies. "I've got a private pilot's licence, and I've had it for just over 12 months. The old hands say the first 100 hours solo are the worst.. .I've notched up 55 so far!"