AssetTrader Buying Guide to Used Trucks

Introduction

The workhorse of a number of industries, the truck is an often overlooked, but very reliable piece of equipment employed in the construction sector. Many businesses utilise trucks to perform a wide variety of tasks, including the delivery of materials, or even delivering products to customers. Around 75% if all trucks are customised in some way. This has a knock on effect on average quality, and industry participants acknowledge that the industry has some way to go to reach the quality levels achieved by car manufacturers.

Because of this, it cannot be emphasised enough that quality issues are likely to be more prevalent in used trucks, especially those with a poor service history, or when used in extreme environments (e.g. when used off road).

When purchasing a used truck, ensure you understand fully the environment that the truck was used in, the number miles, and obtain a certified service history.

Asset Trader has constructed a brief buyer’s guide for those considering buying a used truck, to assist you in making your truck purchase.

Functionality and Use

Box trucks in particular tend to be measured in terms of the length of their holding area. Many trucks have a door on the reverse which rolls up. A number of automated ramps and other accessories are available, and depending on your specific pick up or drop off needs, these may be worth investing in. For example, a refrigerated cargo hold area may be essential to your transportation business, though this is likely to incur extra initial charges as well as operating costs.

With specific regards to the driving area of used trucks, many have standard features which can be likened to cars. For example, features could include automatic or manual transmission, CD stereo units, heated seats and air conditioning.

Trucks can best be categorised into 4 types:
Light Trucks: (e.g., Canopy express, pickup truck, panel truck, light van, tow truck, panel van, sedan delivery, etc.)
In the UK light trucks are not more than 3,500 kg. Pickup trucks are common in North America but not so in Europe where the typical commercial light truck is a van.

Medium Trucks: (e.g., Van, Delivery truck, multistop truck, motor home, medium standard truck, platform truck, flatbed truck, bottler, etc.)
These trucks weight between 3,500kg and 7,500kg. Local delivery and council service garbage trucks, etc., are this classification.

Heavy Trucks: (e.g., Semi-trailer or articulated lorry, dump truck, log carrier, garbage truck, tank truck, etc.)
This category covers the biggest trucks that are allowed. They are capped in many countries at 50,000kg to limit the damage to roads. Heavy trucks are used for long haul purposes often in B-double or semi-trailer configurations.

Off Road Trucks: (e.g., mining trucks, logging trucks, construction trucks, etc.) The final category includes trucks that do not go on public roads, and therefore are not constrained by weight limits.