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Rob Smith

Position: Red Book Editor - HGVs

Number: 07436 564162

Rob is the HGV Editor for CAP‘s Red Book. With almost 30 years of industry experience including residual value setting and managing vehicle disposals for some of the biggest names in truck fleets, he is well versed with Heavy Goods Vehicles. He can regularly be found at auctions, operators and manufacturers researching current market conditions.

23/06/2015

HGV Editorial July 2015

HGV Marketplace Auction attendances continue to struggle reflecting the poor gatherings experienced over the bank holiday periods during May. A few auctions have been well attended but these have been the exception and the age and quality of the vehicles on offer is the obvious reason for good attendances. Records from our auction visits reveal that the whilst the average number of auction...

27/05/2015

HGV Editorial June 2015

Last month auctions were no doubt affected by bank holidays as activity remained somewhat quiet. Some auctions were well attended but others were substantially less busy, without any real reason. Even auctions providing desirable stock have seen attendances fall. Fewer vehicles were presented for sale but outright sales increased. Auctions reported that conversions of provisional sales were not...

28/04/2015

HGV Editorial May 2015

Auction activity has been much quieter recently with fewer vehicles appearing and less outright sales, however auctions still report healthy conversions of provisional sales. The Easter break may have been a major influence in reducing trade with some auctions being sparsely populated during the holiday period. The average number of auction entries decreased 8.25% last month and on-the-day sales...

24/03/2015

HGV Editorials April 2015

Auction activity has been fairly buoyant recently and with a few exceptions most sales have been well attended and well stocked. Dealers continue to buy and evidence suggests that some confidence is returning to the point where more are purchasing are for stock. As dealers are a mainly cautious breed no-one admits to being busy and the best response received to “how’s trade?” was “busy treading...

27/02/2015

HGV Editorial March 2015

HGV Marketplace Recent auction activity has been somewhat sporadic. There have been well attended, well stocked busy events together with some poorly attended sales, and everything in between. However, signs are optimistic as dealers are buying, albeit selectively. Where fresh stock appears the buyers are out in force and the best examples are often purchased. The mix and type of vehicles...

06/02/2015

Government to increase HGV speed limits

The government is currently processing new laws for England and Wales that will see the maximum national speed limits applicable to HGVs over 7.5 tonnes increase on 6th April 2015 to limits more suited to modern vehicles and haulier’s operational practices. On single carriageway roads the limit will increase from 40mph to 50mph and on dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph, even though HGVs are...

28/01/2015

HGV Editorial February 2015

After a slow start to the year sales activity seems to be gathering pace and judging by recent observations there are plenty of buyers with money to spend. It will take a while to establish if vehicles are being purchased for stock or for a specific application or if the current rush to buy is sustained. Export buyers are more numerous of late, which bodes well for the coming months and dealer...

22/12/2014

HGV Editorial January 2015

HGV Marketplace As we enter a new year we look forward to what we hope will be a busy and successful year. With the election looming in May and the possibility of a new government, potentially another coalition, people are beginning to wonder what direction the country will take to sustain the economic recovery whilst at the same time cutting the national debt. There are too many influencing...

27/11/2014

HGV Editorial December 2014

HGV Marketplace Whilst we receive sales data electronically from all types of routes to market, including auctions, we attend as many auctions as possible each month and independently assess the condition of each vehicle and trailer offered for sale. This provides valuable information relating to the mix and type of vehicles in the market as well as data relating to the source, condition and...

31/10/2014

HGV Editorial November 2014

HGV Marketplace With the Driver CPC now fully implemented, as predicted there is now a shortage of qualified HGV drivers. Over 40% of HGV drivers are aged over 50 and many older drivers have relinquished their licence rather than complete the Driver CPC. Add the fact that there is a lack of new recruits and one can clearly see a growing issue. A group of MP’s, the Road Haulage Association, (RHA...