TRUCK AND TRAILER AUCTION SET TODAY

Peterbilt, Western Star, Freightliner, White, Dorsey, Great Dane, American, Fruehauf, Spicer.

These names will be familiar to the crowd that will gathers in the Nash Road Industrial Park area today for the Taylor & Martin Truck Auction. The auction will be held at the former Harris Truck Sales on Interstate 55 near the I-55/Airport Road exit.

Buyers from more than 30 states, Mexico and Canada are expected for the 10 a.m. auction of tractor trucks, trailers and hundreds of miscellaneous items, including fuel tanks, motor oil, and other truck and trailer equipment.

"We conduct truck and trailer sales every weekend," said Haines Hill, of Taylor & Martin Truck Auctioneers, headquartered in Fremont, Neb.

The company has conducted several sales in Cape Girardeau.

"We usually hold three auctions a year here," said Hill. "The volume has been good and we hope to keep returning."

Hill added that the company was looking at some industrial land for a possible permanent facility here.

The equipment for the sale belongs to fleets, owner-operators and leasing companies who either are reducing the size of their fleets or are selling equipment as part of a routine replacement program.

Maintenance histories of many of the vehicles are provided by the owners.

"We usually register from 250 to 400 buyers for our auctions," said Hill. "All the equipment sells to the highest bidder. There are no bid-ins or reserves. Everything sells "as is" and "where is."

One of the new items on today's sale bill is a 1993 Peterbilt 379 tractor, with walk-in sleeper and many comforts such as air conditioning, a cellular phone, radio and tape deck.

Also on the list are a 1990 Peterbilt 379 with walk-in sleeper; a 1990 International with walk-in sleeper; 1988 Freightliner cabover and a 1983 White. All of these rigs have air conditioning.

A number of Great Dane trailers are listed, ranging from a 1979 45-footer to 1991 48-foot trailers. Also available are several Stoughton's aluminum van trailers 48 feet in length. Also available is a 1975 Bankhead automobile transport trailer reconditioned in 1984, with an eight-car capacity.

Among the miscellaneous items are drums of motor oil, 40 to 130-gallon fuel tanks, drums of grease and gear oil, assorted trailer parts, wheel drums, hydraulic jacks, brake kits and an assortment of office supplies.