Legislation encourages CV fleet operators to choose compliancy over price

Changes to emissions legislation have successfully encouraged commercial vehicle fleet operators to think more about the longer-term when acquiring vehicles, rather than focusing solely on cost, reports EurotaxGlass’s, publisher of Glass’s Guide to Commercial Vehicle Values.

The Euro IV emissions standard and the imminent arrival of Euro V have driven up new vehicle prices, but this has not dissuaded operators from ordering the latest-generation units.

Instead, long lead times, created by unprecedented growth in demand from Eastern European countries, and a sharp rise in the residual worth of quality, lower-emissions used trucks have encouraged businesses to take on the best vehicle for the job.

“With one eye on the future, fleet operators are increasingly planning ahead and taking account of changing legislation,” explains George Alexander, Chief Commercial Vehicle Editor at EurotaxGlass’s. “It appears that most are prepared to order top-end product, with price not being the key consideration.

“The alternative, as seen with London’s Low Emission Zone, is to struggle to find the same Euro III chassis that a hundred other buyers are searching for. This has resulted in high used values, which we expect to hold firm over the coming months. Vehicles that fail to meet these emissions levels will become increasingly unpopular,” concludes Alexander.