Inquiries are starting to come in for high-power triaxle tractors
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that can be operated at 44 tomes on general haulage says Gerry Smith, general manager at Midlands Mercedes-Benz dealership Gerard Mann. "I've just been to see three operators who've asked me to quote them at 44 tonnes, and 420hp tractor units seem to be what they're looking for," he adds.
Foden dealership Cumbria Truck Centre is getting a lot of inquiries for 44-tanners too, says managing director Richard Berry, but he has becoming more and more worried by the effect of foot and mouth on truck sales: "We've had four orders cancelled so far and remember, it's notjust livestock hauliers who are affected. Timber hauliers are being hit—they can't go into forests in case they spread the disease to wildlife—and tippers aren't required to cart offal away from the slaughterhouses. We've had quotes out with livestock hauliers, but everything is on hold at present so far as they are concerned. Orders for butchers' vans have been affected too."
"Foot and mouth might affect the business we do in north Wales," says Ged Stringer, dealer principal at Liverpool Mercedes dealership Road Range; he's about to open a workshop just outside Flint. He hasn't detected a big demand for 6x2 tractors that can be run at 44 tonnes, but he is seeing a lot more interest in 4x2 units: "They make up nearly 20% of our tractor sales now, and that's a big change given that 6x2s used to practically dominate registrations."
However, Gary Mullaney, dealer principal at Aldridge, West Midlands ERF dealership Aquila, is not
detecting much interest In 44-tonners: 414, "The attitude among many hauliers seems to be that they won't get paid any more for running at 44 tonnes, so why botherP" CONTINENTAL IMPORTS
Essex independent truck dealership Hanbury Riverside is reorienting its business, says general manager Lee Smith. It is now concentrating on very-late-registered tractors, with a growing number of left-hookers sourced from the Continent. "1want to be like a franchised dealer, but without being hampered by the restrictions that are imposed by the manufacturers," he adds.
Concentrating on Volvos, Scanias and Oafs, he aims to supply four-month-old, high-power, big-cab tractors for several thousand pounds below the the new list price . 'What's more, our vehicles are instantly available,' he adds. "People are having to wait up to 26 weeks for new ones, and that's crazy."
Obtaining the necessary documentation from manufacturers so imported vehicles can be registered isn't proving a problem, he reports: "If one manufacturer doesn't co-operate and the other does, then it's the latter that will make the sale." That might not bother the local distributor, but it will certainly bother the factory.
"The market is changing, and the truck makers will have to change
with it," says Smith. 'We're not a little island any more Continental trucks are often better equipped than those sold through British dealerships, and manufacturers can no longer justify charging a £10,000 premium just because a vehicle happens to be right-hand drive."
John Rogers, of Northampton haulier and importer EM Rogers, reports a steady demand for top-of-the-range Scanias and Volvos sourced from the Continent, but Sean Clarke, managing director of M1 Commercials of Hunslet, Leeds, strikes a note of caution. He claims to have been obstructed by two manufacturers in his efforts to order trucks direct from Europe for resale, and will be raising the matter with his MEP.
"I'm only a small payer, and it seems as though Big Brother is trying to stamp me out," he says. "It's very difficult and frustrating."