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II II -It • I • el
Page 53
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Road Range's Paul Diamond is paying a little more for stock and is concerned that prices might start soaring to the dizzy peaks seen a couple of years ago. "Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me at all if that happened," he remarks.
West Pennine Trucks' Stuart VVolstenholme is finding that his customers seem quite optimistic about the months ahead. "OK, they know they've still got to face a tough couple of years, and as dealers, we knoo., from past experience that things usually go a bit quiet before an electon, but the pessimism there once was is dying away."
"Despite all the gloom and doom, we had a really busy December, says Paul Prewett, general manager, used sales, at east of England Scania dealership TruckEast. "I'd expected it to be quiet and took some holiday, but I ended up having to go back into the office. One thing were certainly starting to see is customers expanding their fleets rather than simply replacing trucks, which is encouraging."
He continues: "From a dealer viewpoint, I suspect the first quarter of 2010 will be a bit iffy. The second quarter should see sales start to lift, the third quarter should be fine, and I wouldn't like to speculate about the fourth quarter."
Diamond comments: "I'm hoping 2010 will be better than 2009. I expect the first quarter to be quiet, but, thereafter, I hope things will pick up."
Hammond says: "I think the market will slowly get back to some normality as we reach the second half of 2010. OAF XF105s are making good money now, which is something I'm pleased to see."