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Marlin Wells, transport manager for Rotherham-based Speedframe, says: "We operate
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a fleet of 24 trucks including a couple of Actros 38-tonne adios to deliver 7,000 plastic doors and windows to the trade each week. Our Volvos are a mix of rigid FL12 boxes and 15-tonne curtainsiders. The operation is all about volume so we specify 28ft bodies on both. Our 12-tonners weigh out at about 10.5 tonnes while the 15-tonners rarely exceed 13 tonnes gross.
"Curtainsiders allow us to load and off-load mechanically with a lorry-mounted fork-lift, while the box bodies are loaded manually. We operated Mercedes up to three years ago but then we found a better leasing deal. The trucks are maintained by the dealer, who collects and returns them to us. We keep them for four years. in which time they will have covered 400,000km.
"Fuel consumption is about 1.0mpg down on the Ategos we used to have. With the FLs we're averaging around 12.5-13.0mpg with the 180hp engines. They're not underpowered but the next ones will be rated at 220hp we think we'll be able to save up to half an hour a day with the faster journey times and that will help when the Working Time Directive comes into force, "We haven't had any major problems. With the long body we have a long wheelbase so turning circles were not that good -the steering stops have been adjusted on the later ones to improve the steering angle The propshaft fell off one after the centre bearing collapsed and we had a fault with an injector pump, but with the FL6 range preceding them they're pretty well tned and tested.
"We've had a couple of night heaters pack up with faulty injectors. We don't fit the long sleeper cab because of the lack of room on the chassis with the long body.
'Instead, we fit top sleeper pods, which are not very popular with our drivers because they don't offer a lot of living space. We suffer from stone chips on the front panel and get the occasional broken windscreen, but that's no worse than any other truck.'