TORONTO (Jan.11, 2000)– The continuing strong levels of new-truck sales in Canada (28,170 class-8 tractors in 1999 through November, up 5.4% compared to the similarly red-hot pace of 1998) has triggered an upsurge in increasingly younger trade-ins – and a drop in trade-in allowances for certain common models.

“We’re seeing trades at the two-year point these days, which used to be almost unheard-of,” says Frank Oliveira, manager of the all-used-truck Select Trucks operation at Freightliner of Canada.

“Operators are putting kilometres on their equipment at a much higher rate than previously, yet they still want to be able to show a dealer that there’s a worthwhile amount of original warranty coverage left.”

However, for a three- or four-year-old fleet-spec’d linehaul sleeper, trade-in valuations have plummeted.

“We’re still wide-open for trade-ins, but you have to work harder to keep on top of what to offer,” says Don Woodworth, used-truck manager at Brentwood International Trucks in Moncton, N.B.

“A truck that was worth $40,000 two months ago might only be worth $30,000 or $32,000 in today’s market.” Daycabs and heavy-spec’d units (especially if the latter is applicable to on/off-road environments) have been retaining their value the best, he reveals.