New regulations for trailers used on Irish roads are leading an upsurge in new trailer sales. On the 1 January, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) implemented the new revised standards for agricultural vehicles, which all agricultural trailers used on the public road must adhere to.

The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to trailer manufacturers in Ireland who have all reported increased trailer numbers going through their factories.

Dooley Bros in Co Kilkenny said they have seen waiting times doubled due to the increased volume of trailers being built.

Both Smyth and Broughan Trailers, based in Co Carlow, have noticed an undoubted increase here in Ireland as well as an increase in exports, with sales reported to be up 15% to 20% on the previous two years.

Donal Lynch from Lynch Trailers in Co Cork also reported increased demands for their trailers, up 20% on the previous sales year.

Northern Ireland

Trailer manufacturers in Northern Ireland have reported increased interest in trailers this year, with people talking about the regulations, although sales figures are not yet known.

The currency exchange rate has proven a problem with cross-border sales of Northern-manufactured trailers earlier this year, one manufacturer reported.

The other side to the new regulations is that many trailers are now becoming obsolete.

It is costing too much to adhere to the new standards, making them also decrease drastically in resale value.

People who require trailers in order to complete their day-to-day work will now have to invest in new machinery to keep within the law, which can cause cashflow problems.