Fleet managers may need to seek alternatives to buying used trucks to cut costs

Officials from Penske recently announced that companies that seek ways to inexpensively replace older vehicles with used late-model low-mileage models may find it more difficult to achieve in 2011, Fleet Owner reports.

In 2009, the company's used-truck inventory included more than 10,000 units for sale. By the fourth quarter of 2010 that number dropped to 2,800. Overall, Penske sold nearly 23,000 used trucks last year.

"Pent-up demand started in the first quarter last year and has not stopped," Bob Glenn director of remarketing for Penske, told the news source. "Demand for dry van trailers has been very solid the last six months."

Industry insiders believe that the spike in demand for low new-truck production rates from 2007 to 2009 combined with the feed for use-truck market three or fours years out, means used-truck supplies may be short for at least the next few years.

Fleet managers may wish to enroll their employees in online truck driver training courses in an effort to update their credentials and to help them stay current with industry news.

According to ACT Research, North American fleets ordered 27,044 Class 8 units for 2011, which is an 128 percent year-over-year increase.

By Mark Priest 

Fleet managers may need to seek alternatives to buying used trucks to cut costs

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011