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Benefits of long lead times
Page 69
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Although demand still exceeds supply, long lead times for new chassis are keeping used truck traders optimistic. Kevin Swallow reports.
Mark Patterson reckons that if it wasn't for the long lead times on new products. used truck dealers would probably have moved into eBay to supplement their income. Patterson set up an agency to source second-hand trucks on behalf of the trade:[Long lead times] have benefited the trade at a time when they can't meet demand for late-year stock," he says. "It has meant older stock has found new life where previously it would have been discarded." This view is backed up by Glass's Guide's chief commercial vehicle editor George Alexander: "Truck dealers remain upbeat in a marketplace that, courtesy of ludicrously long lead times on new chassis, goes from strength to strength.
"Many truck dealers put forward the opinion that if you can find nice late-year Euro-3 heavies then you can name your own price," he adds. On top models, such as Daf I 05XF, the wait for a new vehicle is said to be well in excess of a year.To some operators this may seem incomprehensible and must make it nigh on impossible to react to any replacement requirements that crop up."
But Alexander warns that condition is still an issue: -Age catches up with even these top performers, as does wear and tear, as the kilometre count rises towards a million.At this point the domestic buyer has little use for the vehicle and an export market will need to he found."•