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It may take a downturn in the economy to bring lead times back to a more sensible level"
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with lead times has put us in a somewhat awkward position when we're dealing with firms that replace their new trucks every two years.We're having to go back to them just six months after they've taken delivery and tell them that they need to start thinking about ordering their next batch of vehicles soon to ensure that they turn up on time.
"Not surprisingly, some of them think we're trying it on."
Opticruise gearboxes
Holmes has noticed that many buyers are happy to accept second-hand Scanias with Opticruise gearboxes:"We get people ringing up inquiring if we've got any trucks fitted with them, and while we may not be able to charge a premium for Opticruise, we're not getting less for it than for a conventional box."What's more, prospective buyers for used Scanias are no longer being put off by digital tachographs."It's not a major issue," he remarks.
"I think it will heat least 18 months before the used market settles down again," says Matt Hammond, used vehicle sales manager at West Thurrock,Essexbased dealership Harris Dd. "It may take a downturn in the economy, affecting the demand for new trucks, to bring lead times back to a more sensible level."
Hammond reports a sharp rise in the demand for trucks that meet the requirements of the forthcoming I mit don low-emission zone, and he slams Transport for London for spreading confusion with some of its pronouncements on this issue:"I know of some operators who have got rid of vehicles because they believed that they wouldn't comply, only to discover subsequently that they would have." •