LAS VEGAS. GE Trailer Fleet Services reported 2009 sales of more than 14,000 late-model trailers—compared to volumes of 20,000 units or more per year before the recession hit. The remarketed trailers are from the company’s own fleet, and are typically older model returns coming back in from lease customers at the end of term, the company noted during a presentation at the Truckload Carriers Association meeting held here this week.
“In a clearly down market environment for equipment sales, the success can be attributed to many first-time buyers in the owner-operator segment, and from trucking firms absorbing new routes due to consolidation in the industry from bankruptcies and business failures,” said Tony O’Brien, GE Trailer remarketing product line leader. “These firms typically don’t have time to review the fleet of trailers they have acquired, and are looking for good value, late-model units to fill their needs, and at less cost than buying new.”
And business in 2010 is off to a strong start, according to GE Trailer, which reported sales of more than 1,000 units in January and February of this year, a showing considered to be “very robust.” Expectations are that the company will see sales of 18,000 to 20,000 units by year’s end.
The company also announced the addition of new customers in non-traditional, non-trucking markets, where trailers are being used as storage units. “A typical trailer has about 475 ft of storage space, and for a fraction of the cost of similar space at a fixed warehouse,” said GE commercial leader Brent Russell. He noted GE is calling on a variety of new markets, including agriculture, hotels, schools, racetracks and construction.
GE Trailer also unveiled a new website, which it said will allow users to find information according to trailer application: over-the-road, cartage or storage. Each unit includes a link to a “printer-friendly” companion PDF flyer.