Commercial Trucks For Sale

When you are looking for a trailer to purchase, where do you begin? You used to ask a friend or trusted person who had a similar vehicle to give you a recommendation on a dealer or salesperson. The internet has made it easier to find a dealer or manufacturer that offers towable vehicles. It can cost you more than an average home depending on which unit you choose.

Your Online Trailer Buying Guide

There are many ways to get started:

• Refer to friends and family who have owned similar vehicles to the one you are interested in for recommendations of local dealers.

• You can search the internet by entering the keywords exp. "28' Flatbed Trailer For Sale in Denver, Co."

• Find local dealers - Search the Yellow Pages to find equipment and trailer dealers.

• You can also shop on a number of good trailer classifieds sites.

Keep in mind that local dealers may offer better service if you are looking for trailers.

• Find a unit you are interested in and do your research.

• Be sure to verify the dealer and manufacturer of your trailer.

• You should ensure that the trailer meets all of your requirements.

While you don't need to upgrade too quickly, you don't want your truck or trailer to be any longer or heavier than you can. Open trailers weigh less than enclosed trailers, but enclosed trailers offer more cargo security.

You should consider multiple uses for your trailer. It is not worth spending thousands on a horse trailer you don't use often. Then, consider if the trailer was just 4" longer and you wouldn't have to purchase that enclosed cargo 10' long.

Used Truck Trailer Market in the United States - An Overview

Think about the future. What is the likelihood that the trailer you're looking at will still be available in the future? Dual axle is the norm for trailers greater than 3,000lb. You need to find the right trailer for you. It is not a good idea to base your decision on the axle.

It is recommended that all trailers you buy have a breakaway brake system for safety. A few smaller trailers don't usually have a breakaway system. It is always a good idea to have extra safety equipment.

There are many buyers and sellers of used truck trailers. American Trailer Exchange, an Atlanta-based truck trailer dealer estimates that there are approximately 400,000 used trailers on the market annually. This is more than $3 billion in annual sales. This equipment includes dry freight vans, platform vans, refrigerated vans, tank trailers, and refrigerated vans. The useful life span of trailers is at least 20 years.

They will be traded many times throughout their useful life as they move from long distance service to regional hauls to local cartage and finally to storage. The rule of thumb is to re-market trailers every five years, and then use them indefinitely as storage units. The average annual trailer shipment is approximately 250,000 units. There are many configurations and specifications available for trailers, which can be used to set segments in the buying market.

Tips For Buying Or Selling Trucks & Trailers

Sources of Used Truck Trailer Supplies: There is no national distribution system for the supply side. Only a handful of used trailer suppliers have a national reach. There are only a few suppliers of used trailers that have a nationwide reach. These include trailer manufacturers who accept trade-ins; public and private carriers who sell surplus equipment to dealers; banks and equipment leasing companies who re-market off-lease assets through asset management departments; small firms that buy large quantities from national trucking companies, and then redistribute the equipment through dealers; and over 1500 equipment brokers and dealers who service regional markets. A market share of less than 5% is held by no one participant. The market fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies, with equipment moving from the original seller through brokers, dealers, and other intermediaries before it reaches the end user.

Companies that are part of the Used Truck Trailer Supply Chain

1. Trailer manufacturers: The United States has over 100 truck trailer manufacturer that produce 250,000 new trailers per year. Over 75% of all sales is made by the top 10 manufacturers. Because they often receive used equipment in trade, trailer manufacturers have been a major source of trailers on the secondary market. Manufacturers have become less active participants in the secondary market over the years due to their need to recapitalize their manufacturing operations. Factory branches have been closed to make way for franchised, often non-exclusive dealerships. Some trade packages are not being accepted or offered significantly less. Most manufacturers have cut down the number of employees in their used trailer department to just one or two, as they rely heavily upon dealers to purchase this equipment.

2. Trucking Companies: There are both contract and public carriers that make up trucking companies. Shippers have the option to hire public carriers for shipments that include one-piece or multiple full truck loads. Shippers can only use the equipment and drivers of contract carriers. Transportation Technical Services (TTS), there are more than 27,000 registered trucking businesses in the U.S.A. and Canada. Truckers don't specialize in selling their equipment, except for the biggest companies. The Maintenance Manager is usually responsible for selling excess trailers. The primary responsibility of the Maintenance Manager is to purchase and maintain trailers and tractors. His performance is determined by the cost and readiness of the fleet. Equipment liquidation is not a priority so he heavily relies on the expertise of dealers when selling equipment. Dealers are usually invited to bid on used trailers that are available for sale by trucking companies, or at wholesale auctions. Learn more info