The Used Truck Association and Heavy Duty Marketing Associates have released their latest training program, "Professional Used Truck Appraisals."

An interactive program, it uses an eight-part video and an accompanying learning workbook. Participants watch and listen to a portion of the video, then read a related supporting section in the workbook, after which they conduct various appraisal exercises.
Participants who successfully complete the training may earn a certificate of completion from the UTA by participating in additional appraisal evaluation and testing.
"Behavioral psychologists have found that as adults we learn and remember 10% of what we hear, 60% of what we’re shown and 90% of what we actually do," said HDMA President Paul Spokas. "The learning process used in this latest training program gets the participant involved in all three of these methods - hearing, seeing and doing. Consequently, we believe retention of the program’s key concepts and practical tactics will be greatly enhanced."
The objective of the appraisal training is to assist any person, dealer or organization involved in buying or trading used trucks.
To meet the challenges of today’s tough used truck market, dealers must improve the processes they use to appraise trucks, said UTA President Steve “Bear” Nadolson. "Current market conditions and competition eliminate any possibility of overcoming fact-finding mistakes, and poor or inconsistent appraisal procedures.
"In used trucks, a dealer makes his money when the truck is bought, not when it’s sold," Nadolson continued. "If you start off in a hole because of poor and incomplete appraisal information, experience tells us that things will only get worse."
The Professional Used Truck Appraisals program is an “in-house” program, meaning an organization purchases the program only once, and then uses it as many times as needed.
For more information, contact Heavy Duty Marketing Associates at 866-454-HDMA or e-mail HDMAinc@aol.com. Information is also available at the UTA’s website at www.uta.org.