After 2013 saw a boom in the registration of new trucks, one of the leading players in the trailer rental market has predicted a surge in the market as operators refresh their trailer fleets in 2014.
James Smith, MD at Hireco, which has seven outlets throughout the UK and one in the Republic of Ireland, told Commercialmotor.com that the start of the year has seen the “trailer business absolutely booming” with some manufacturers offering lead times around six months.
So far this year Hireco has placed order with SDC for 350 curtainsiders; Montracon for 150 curtainsiders and double deck trailers and Dennison for 205 skeletal trailers. It is also seeing more interest in its refrigerated stock and has placed orders with Schmitz Cargobull and Chereau for 100 and 20 refrigerated trailers respectively.
“All new trailers start to arrive from week 16 with over half of the above already place on long term deals,” he explains. “We have availability on new kit coming through but it is getting snapped up quickly. We are offering some very good deals fully inclusive of management and tyres.”
Last year Hireco bought over 650 new trailers and it also purchased 400 of its customers trailers and leased them back. “We are hoping for a repeat of that in 2014; we are winning more and more business,” he says.
One new customer is Dartford-based chilled specialist Solstor, which has taken 35 trailersl. “It is never easy to win business such as Solstor,” says Smith, “but this is a long-term deal and a contract hire deal for us.”