Eddie Velez read in the newspaper that the former A-P-A Transport Corporation was holding a public auction at its former headquarters in North Bergen, in an attempt to sell off some of its holdings to recoup the major losses that forced the long-time trucking magnate to suddenly close two months ago.
Velez, a North Bergen private delivery contractor, was hopeful that he could find one or two trucks to replace some of the older ones that he currently uses for his business.
So Velez went to the A-P-A auction, but unfortunately, he came away empty handed. The auctioneer was rattling off prices for the trucks that were not to Velez’ liking.
“I thought I could come here to find a bargain,” Velez said. “But they want way too much money for these trucks. I thought I could get them cheap.”
Velez was not alone. There were other prospective truck buyers who were turned away because the bidding got a little too pricy.
“I think they’re looking to sell the lot to one big outfit, not to the little guys,” said Jerry Manguiles, another North Bergen resident who was interested in purchasing a truck. “I was disappointed by this auction.”
Many of the prospective buyers spent hours checking the conditions of the trucks available in the auction. Although some of them had been on the road for more than 12 years, most of the experts thought that the vehicles were maintained and in “better than average” condition.
The management of A-P-A Transport hired Blackmon Associates, an Arkansas-based auctioneer, to handle sales of more than 3,000 pieces of property ranging from major tractor trailer rigs and smaller trucks, to truck parts like axles, tires and such, to office equipment like desks, chairs and computers, and even some older parcels.
It was not determined how much the owners of A-P-A planned on recouping in the auction.
But there were some interesting items up for auction, like 200 or so desks, all in the same lot. If you wanted one, you took them all. You couldn’t just get one desk.
The desks were somewhat weather-beaten. However, a representative from PJAX Freight System, which purchased most of the desks at a $1 a pop, was turning around and selling the desks piecemeal at $5 each. Talk about enterprising.
“Hey, we’re willing to work with the public,” the PJAX rep laughed.
There were 27 boxes of rear reflectors. Seventeen microwave ovens were available. There was also an assortment of time clocks, just in case you needed to punch a clock to tell time.
One of the most interesting items on sale in the auction was a faded, tattered, easily 40-year-old briefcase with an identification tag reading, “A. Imperatore.”
It is believed to be a briefcase once owned by one-time A-P-A owner Arthur Imperatore, Sr., the owner and operator of NY Waterway. The briefcase was purchased for $5.
Many of the vehicles were not sold during the auction, so there are plans for another auction in the next few weeks. At least 250 vehicles remained in the parking lots of the former headquarters after the first auction was completed Wednesday.
“They’re all going to go,” said an A-P-A representative. “We have to sell everything. We have debts to pay.”
Some of the major debts will be paid with the sale of the property, which has been the topic of heavy discussion and debate. The Hudson County Schools of Technology have expressed some interest in purchasing the property, including A-P-A’s extensive gym and training facility, once used by the New Jersey Nets for daily practices.
However, the township of North Bergen has also proposed a land swap with A-P-A as a site to possibly build a new municipal pool, to offset the current pool site that has been closed because of land contamination.
The home improvement national chain, Home Depot, has also expressed some interest in purchasing the property. However, first things first. There are trucks to be sold.
“I’ll be back,” Velez said. “I just hope the prices are just a little lower the next time. I’m ready to buy.”
A-P-A closed up operations after 55 years during the course of one weekend in March, sending more than 1,800 workers to the unemployment line.