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164 
ver the past five years there's been a seachange in
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fifth-wheel buying patterns, from dealer-fitment to line fitment. European Union standards in the shape of the 94/20/EU Directive on Coupling Equipment have made on-line fitment a practical proposition for the truck manufac
turers by harmonising the various national preferences.
Line fit can be an attractive proposition for operators. Prices should be lower than you can negotiate yourself (assuming, of course, that the truck makers pass on at least some of the savings they make from volume buying). Then there's the reduced lead-time because the truck is ready to roll when it reaches the dealer.
The downside, of course, is less choice of coupling make or model (which in any case has gradually reduced through mergers and acquisitions): US-based Fontaine International acquired VBG in 2000, while last year family-owned Rockinger was snapped up by Jost.
Specifying non-standard fifth-wheels is likely to increase the lead time and your preferred choice of manufacturer may not be offered at all. Big D fifth wheels are popular with end users in the UK, for example, but the company is finding it difficult to persuade the European truck makers to offer their products on-line, says MD Tim Moody.