News

Is the cheap and cheerful, modestly powered, fleet-spec tractor unit making a comeback on the used market? Some dealers are suggesting that it is. They contend that the abundance of drivers desperately looking for work means that hauliers are changing their buying policies.

Those that bought tractor units with big cabs and big engines to attract and retain new drivers are now buying fleet-grade units instead because recruitment is so much easier. If the drivers don't like it, then it's  just too bad - or so the argument runs.

However Paul Prewett, general manager, used sales, at Scania dealership TruckEast doubts that attitudes are changing that much. "We're not finding that there is that much of an appetite for what are sometimes referred to as governor's motors," he states. "Drivers still have an influence on what is purchased, and if you've got a good driver, then you want to keep him happy."

It is a view shared by Lee Smith, a director of independent dealership Hanbury Riverside. Far from favouring governor's motors, the sort of people who buy used trucks and run small- to medium-sized haulage companies are often truck enthusiasts eager to operate units they can be proud of, he contends.

Opting for powerful, high-specification, second-hand units now makes financial sense too, believes Smith. "They'll enjoy strong  residuals in three years' time."