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1 1 1111 1 ! I V I' I IuYe YA I I
Page 97
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Despite the economic conditions, dealers are staying calm as used truck sales fall off.
"Anybody who knows anything about this business knew that the ball was going to stop rolling at some stage, and its just stopped rolling, although were still getting enquiries," says Keltruck's Dave Morgan. "Things are steady rather than busy" "It's gone quiet, but I don't think the situation is as bad as a lot of people say it is," reckons Harris Daf's Matt Hammond. "What may be happening is that market is adjusting back to its natural level.
"Remember too that last year, quite a few people were forced into buying because they needed trucks that would meet the London Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) rules that were introduced in February. Now that they've got the vehicles they needed, they're not buying now."
"We've had two or three years of fantastic business," says Lee Smith of Hanbury Riverside. "Now things have gone the other way, we've got to try to be a bit creative."
He has responded by producing highly specified versions of Volvo's FH480 Globetrotter XL and Daf's XF105 460 Super Space Cab 6x2 tractor units. He sold one of each at the recent Truckfest show — the first time he has exhibited there — and more specially equipped units prepared to exact customer requirements are in the pipeline.
Even in grim times, there are still clients who want a truck with just about every conceivable extra on it. "We're talking about the bespoke used truck here," Smith says. "You've got to dare to be different."