| Sales have slumped to all time lows and the car dealer | | | | means that used truck dealers can fulfil their backlog |
| networks are showing the early danger signs of | | | | of orders. Gloria Bytheway, sales manager at |
| lay-offs and cutbacks. The signs for the UK car sales | | | | Trucklocator - the trucks for sale site tells us that |
| industry are looking bleak. There is a small silver | | | | visitor numbers have never been so good. “We |
| lining to this cloud – as the number of people in the | | | | have seen visitors increase by over 20% in the last |
| wider economy made redundant increases, so does | | | | four months alone as the numbers of trucks |
| the growing number who attempt to fulfil a lifelong | | | | advertised on the website increases. |
| ambition of starting their own businesses. | | | | Zena Hedley, sales manager at vanlocator - the vans |
| For many of these individuals this means investing their | | | | for sale site tells us that interest in used vans for sale |
| redundancy in a commercial vehicle – most likely a | | | | has picked up over recent months, “we are running |
| van. They may decide to operate a sandwich round | | | | at about 10% more visitors than this time two months |
| or become a florist or simply take up a courier job – | | | | ago – although conversion rates from visitors to |
| the common factor is they will need a van. | | | | enquiries have reduced slightly – there are probably |
| The used truck industry is still enjoying a purple patch. | | | | more people browsing before making the big decision |
| For the previous twelve months there were no good | | | | to change their career.” |
| trucks available on the market, as operators were | | | | All car dealers should broaden their range of products |
| holding onto them as the waiting list for new trucks | | | | that they sell – especially when times are going well |
| stretched beyond 18 months. As waiting lists have | | | | – as they may cushion you from the impact of a |
| come done, more used stock is on the market, which | | | | downturn in your core business. |