The 7.5-tonne market is showing the first signs of recovery, following an appalling start to the year. In a rolling year to September 2007, some 7,044 trucks were registered - 28% down on the previous year. A lack of orders for new 7.5-tonners during the first half of the year is thought to have been caused by the introduction of digital tachographs. Few 7.5-tonne drivers have smartcards, which has led some rental firms to delay fleet renewals.
The introduction of speed limiters is also likely to have had an effect. As of January 2008, all new 7.5-tonners will be limited to 56mph, effectively making them small trucks, rather than large vans. Daf's marketing director Tony Pain says the introduction of Euro 4 may also have had a slight impact. He exp-lains that this is because the technology costs proportionately more on a 7.5-tonner than on a larger truck.
Pain believes we are also seeing the first signs of a movement up in weight to 12- and 15-tonners, triggered by the declining number of people who can drive 7.5-tonners on car licences. But Pain believes the 7.5-tonne sector is showing signs of recovery, with rental companies and the Royal Mail just starting to place orders again. Iveco also believes the market is going to make a full recovery.
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