Expert: Waheed Shittu - 10/4/2009

Question
I want to go into haulage business. I am discussing with my in-laws in US in getting a mack flatbed truck for the business. I want to reduce cost to the bearest minimum since I'm a starter in the business. I want to use heat/water resistant glues to label major components of the truck so that I will know when any of the components is changed unauthorized. 1. I will like to know if there are some components in the truck that can be damaged by labeling them with heat/water resistant glues. 2. I want to know if importing those mack trailers are better compared to buying them locally in Nigeria. Thanks. Bunmi

Answer
Bunmi,
1. I believe that the kind of glue you mentioned will not endanger any of the truck components as long as they glued on the exterior part. But painting with the heat/water resistant glue is not advisable.
It is not advisable to put paint on radiators, intercoolers, and haet exchangers.
2. It is not a straight forward answer to say whether importing of Mack trucks is better compared to buying locally. I think one needs to look at the landing cost and the hurdles attendant to it compared to the local selling price to determine if it is worth the effort.
However, importing own trucks has the advantage of getting assured quality.