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Hauliers may find a silver lining in the current climate of economic uncertainty and fuel price rises as lead times for trucks begin to fall. Rumours of massive cancellations and a sudden surplus supply remain unsubstantiated, however. "There have been cancellations up and down the country, although we've not had any yet," says one dealer for a major manufacturer based in the North-East.

According to Nigel Jones, new sales director for the South-West at Scania Swindon, lead times have  fallen by around a third. "Our lead times generally are until February 2009, but going back six to eight months, we were on 12 month lead times."

Jones attributes this to widespread concerns about the global economy and the proliferation of advance orders. "All around Europe things are beginning to slow," he says. "A lot of trucks had been forward ordered so the market is above itself. The heavy truck market this year is up compared with 2007 and now it's coming back to its real level."

The North-East dealer adds: "In some cases it's been genuine cutbacks due to the credit crunch, fuel costs, call it what you like. In others it's been a question of deferring new orders until things get better. When they placed their orders in September, things looked very rosy. Now it's not quite the same."

Another increasing phen-omenon is extending the duration of contract hire. "In 2005 we had a big year, with a lot of vehicles taken on three-year contracts," he continues. "It  should follow that 2008 should also be a good year, but a lot are extending their contracts for another 12 months. Own-account customers seem to be OK, but general hauliers are finding it tougher."

The dealer maintains production remains pretty much at full capacity, however, and the situation for manufacturers is far from bleak. Jones agrees. "As in any part of the UK economy, there's a degree of nervousness, and fuel costs have gone through the roof, but the order book is pretty solid and we remain positive."