British operators' love affair with 4.5m and higher trailers is creating a surplus on the used market, while demand across mainland Europe for sub-4.2m stock is creating a sellers' market.
Operators from the former Eastern Bloc countries are snapping up used Schmitz Cargobull trailers forcing up premiums above what domestic operators would expect to pay for the traditional European spec trailers, says managing director Derek Wright of A1 Schmitz Cargobull’s UK used trailer centre.
Around 60% of stock is exported. “When it comes to good quality used equipment, trailers built to 4.0 and 4.2m specification is scarce in the UK. There is a limited export market for trailers of 4.5m and over, generally, these products get resold into the UK or are cut down to make flat bed trailers and exported – often to the Far East,” he adds.
As a result, demand for used Schmitz Cargobull trailers built to the European specification has never been greater. “Schmitz Cargobull has a network of 15 Used Trailer Centres across Europe and we are all working closely together to source stock to ensure that we satisfy demand,” he says.
Wright questions whether there is a need for so many 4.5m-plus trailers for domestic hauliers and says Schmitz Cargobull has incentives in place to buy shorter stock but it will take three to five years to come through.