CPEC

Taking the risk out of buying Preowned Reefer

In March 2001, an attractive opportunity presented itself to Ray Floyd, vice president in charge of maintenance at Knoxville, Tennessee-based Colonial Freight Systems. A fleet of 50 preowned trailers equipped with Carrier Ultra reefer units was being sold by a trucking company in Denver, Colo., at what Floyd described as "a real good price."

While some fleet owners might have been hesitant about buying preowned reefers from a seller hundreds of miles away, Colonial's management was not. Why? Because they were able to purchase RoadCare™ Certified Preowned Equipment Coverage, also known as CPEC, from their Carrier Transicold dealer. Part of "The Complete Package," Carrier's full-service approach to total customer satisfaction and support, CPEC is the transport refrigeration industry's only factory-backed warranty for preowned reefers. When purchased for qualifying units, it reduces the major risks associated with the purchase of used equipment, and the potential replacement costs of major components, as well as related parts and labor.

Like the RoadCare Extended Major Component Coverage (EMCC) available on new Carrier units, CPEC provides buyers with peace of mind. "With CPEC, buyers can be confident that preowned reefers will protect high-value, temperature-controlled loads, and at the same time, reduce their financial risk and operating costs," said Joe Hock, national service manager for Carrier Transicold.

That confidence is the result of a qualification inspection by a factory-trained Carrier technician. Once the preowned reefer passes the test, it is designated "RoadWorthy" with a colorful, attention-getting hangtag. Then when the unit is purchased, the dealer conducts a thorough, 49-point preventive maintenance inspection that includes an oil change and new oil, air and fuel filters.

"When a buyer picks up the unit," explained Hoc "they know they've got a good, sound piece of equipment that will go to work and start earning revenue rig off the bat." That was of critical importance for Floyd, since Colonial Freight Systems hauls at setpoints that range from minus 20 degrees up to 70 degrees. Have the Carrier units performed? "I'm very, very pleased," he said. "The Carrier units are doing a super-good job.'

The buyer of a preowned unit can also count on CPEC coverage being accepted at any Carrier Transicold dealer throughout North America, and service being performed with genuine Carrier Performance Parts.  A special CPEC sticker mounted on the unit frame makes warranty service simple by listing all the necessary information, including the unit serial number, coverage, deductible, ending hours and expiration date.

In service for over a year, Colonial Freight Systems' preowned Carrier units have presented very few problems. "We don't normally buy used equipment," said Floyd. "Even putting 50 units into service as quickly as we did, we really haven't had problems. And the few repairs we did need  - just minor adjustments  -  were taken care of by the extended warranty."

But the benefits of CPEC aren't limited to the buyer alone. For the seller, CPEC adds to the resale value of a used unit, helping to move the equipment faster And it

shifts the burden of inspecting and certifying preowned equipment and providing after-sale service1 from the seller to the Carrier Transicold dealer network. The same holds true for OEM used equipment outlets. CPEC helps them sell their premium reefer trailers more quickly, and with the confidence that Carrier will take care of any unforeseen reefer problems.

CPEC coverage is surprisingly affordable, and makes buying preowned equipment a wise investment.  “That’s especially important in today’s challenging business environment, when more customers are looking at buying used equipment,” added Hock.  “And if we can get fleets into preowned Carrier equipment now, they’ll be likely to prefer new Carrier units as the fleet grows or as the older equipment exceeds its useful life.  It’s a great introduction to the Carrier Transicold dealer network.”

It certainly was for Ray Floyd.  “If I hadn’t bought the Carrier units, no one could have told me how Carrier has excelled in terms of the quality of their refrigeration units," he declared. He is so pleased, in fact, that Colonial — a long-standing customer of the competition — recently purchased new trailers equipped with Ultra XL™ reefers.

While the CPEC warranty laid the groundwork for the sale, Floyd also gives a large part of the credit to Hugh Giles, vice president of marketing for Carrier Transicold South. "Hugh's a super-great guy," Floyd said, "and he has done exactly what he promised he would do."

A model of persistence, Giles had