While Bowling Green Ky.-based distributors Dan Jenkins Jr. and Sr. will readily drop ship larger equipment to customers, both say they limit the number of high-ticket sales and are cautious about new and high customer balances due to limited financing options.

“We don’t mind doing (financing personally),” Jenkins Jr. says. “But, being on the independent side, I think your resources are kind of limited.”

What happens to the customers who walk away from an existing truck balance? Jenkins Jr. says it’s harder to track those customers down, or be aware of known skip offenders.

“We don’t have a network to show if a guy has moved out of state, and if you enter is social [security number] it’s not going to flag in the system that he owes so-and-so down in Kentucky this money,” Jenkins Jr. says. “It’s not strong for the independent.”