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Folks, I don''t have to tell you, we are smack dab in the middle of lean times. Fuel and insurance costs, coupled with the lack of good payin'' freight, are makin'' things tough on nearly all truck owners. Now is a great time for you to consider select used or salvaged parts versus new parts for your equipment. There are a couple of good resources to help you locate that used transmission, fuel tank, or similar used item when you need it. Check out www.truckpartslocator.com or www.buyitandsellitfortrucks.com and search for your request. They can point you in the right direction from dozens of reputable salvage yards across the nation. Or, you can call 800-228-1103, ext. 10 and ask for Kevin in our used parts department. We have most of our salvage components visible on-line
at: www.4statetrucks.com under "used parts." 4 State Trucks is a member of a national association of salvage yards and if we can''t help you, we''ll tell you who can!

Salvage yards and truck recyclers in general are a dying breed. As these late model rigs become more and more disposable and "model years" change quicker and quicker and become just like the automotive industry, it makes the business of marketing used truck parts more of a challenge-not to mention all the environmental compliance requirements! It seems like the ol" timers are getting out of the industry, but not many folks are "getting in''. The salvage parts enterprise is an intensive and tough business. It requires a lot of personnel, a lot of space, and quite a few dollars. A typical salvage truck that is 5 to 6 years old will still bring $8,000 to $10,000 on the open salvage market-sometimes more if it has big power specs and is a Pete or KW! The cost of transporting the wrecked truck from the "salvage pool" or towing yard to the salvage yard location also adds up quick. We all know that towing costs are a big ticket item.

There are many parts and components that may be better replaced with brand new components, rather than used parts, when they fail. Items such as P/S boxes, 5th wheels, A/C compressors, and such are just a few examples. However, if you need a set of tires, a driveshaft, a battery cover, a grille surround, a suspension bracket, a fuel tank or similar item, used is the way to go! Typically, these items can save you 30 to 50% over new parts and do the same job. That is a substantial savings!

4 State Trucks jumped into the salvage biz back in 1988 or so. The used parts business is the means that allowed us to invest in chrome, accessories, and truck customization. We still drag in 1 to 3 wrecked trucks each week. I guess scrappin'' is like drivin'', it gets in your blood. Here at 4 State, we have four guys dedicated to used parts sales and
8 to 10 guys dedicated to tearing down the wrecked trucks and inspecting each part to make sure it''s clean and in good, usable condition.

No matter how big or successful we may get in chrome, new parts, or accessories, 4 State Trucks will always be active and competitive in salvage trucks and used parts sales. "Why," you ask? Because it''s what we do! My Dad loved the salvage biz and always encouraged making it bigger and better. We intend to continue pursuing his vision. Plus, it''s fun! It is still quite a challenge to go out in the yard, "treasure hunting" for that hard-to-find or item, to see if you can locate it without having to go to a dealership and lay down big bucks so they can "order it" for ya''!

BossMan''s the name, scrappin''s the game!
Bryan Martin
4 State Trucks/ChromeShopMafia