How do I check a scrap yard’s truck and roll-off bin fleet?

Begin with the list. Ask the seller for every truck, trailer, hoist and bin, with its age, hours or mileage, and who holds the title. Walk the yard and check the list against what you see. Units on the list that are missing, or units in the yard that are not on the list, need an explanation.

Hire your own mechanic to look at the trucks, the hoists and the cables. Roll-off bins take a beating, so look at the floors, the rails and the doors. Ask for maintenance records and ask what the last big repair was. A truck with no paperwork is a truck you will have to assume is due for work.

Next, think about the drivers. Ask how many are needed to run the fleet, who holds the right class of licence, and whether the seller expects them to stay. Ask how often units sit idle, since idle units cost money without earning any. Your lawyer can check for liens on the vehicles, and your accountant can tell you how the fleet shows up on the books. Finally, ask how the seller decides when to retire a bin or truck, since a clear replacement habit usually means the fleet has been looked after.

Key takeaways

• Match the written fleet list to what you can see in the yard.
• Pay your own mechanic to inspect trucks, hoists and bins before you commit.
• Ask who holds title, and have your lawyer search for liens.