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by Toby Clark • MAN is hoping to increase residual values and raise the profile of its used truck operations by creating a Vehicle Management Centre at its headquarters in Swindon.
VMC manager David Drake says the aim is not to replace used truck dealers—the centre will supply dealers and traders as well as offering direct sales: "We're interested in buying anything late-model, clean, with MAN on it".
The used truck market is depressed, but Drake claims that some sectors are still strong: late-model high-powered tractive units are selling especially well; while 7.5-tonne boxvans are moving as quickly as he can get them in the runup to Christmas. The changes due in driver licensing seem not to have mattered.
The market for lowpower tractive units is depressed at present due to oversupply in the past couple of years.
There's a glut of fleet tractors at the 320-340hp level, and Drake reckons operators will be looking for vehicles that can operate at 44 tonnes.
"I'd really like to get hold of six-wheel tractors with 400 horsepower or 4x2s
MAN's
that can take a mid-lift axle," says Drake.
Drake says the recent fall in used vehicle prices has not been reflected in the price guides, which he says are following the market rather than leading: "The general feeling is that you need to buy at the rough condition price."