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"Payload was one of our reasons for
Page 32
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buying the Premium." John Gleeson
The name Via Cellia Transport summons up visions of a company involved in transporting pasta, sunripe tomatoes and olive oil. Nothing could be further from the truth—Ale firm is based at Middleton, 1,000 feet up in the Peak district, and runs a fleet dominated by powder tankers and tippers.
The name originates from a local landowner, Phillip Cell, who gave the name to a road he built through the area. The present company originates from a management buyout from Tarmac in 1989. Director John Gleeson is also fleet engineer and looks after some 8o rigids and artics that transport the local limestone around the country, "We still run quite a number Fodens alongside a few Dafs and Volvos," he reports. "We normally like to buy our. trucks if the purchase includes a buy-back clause; it gives us better control over our business and now we would be happy with either deal.
The best package
"Until recently we ran our trucks for as long as they would last—we still have some K-reg Fodens. With the advent of 44 tonnes last year we needed to uplift our operational weight. We put out tenders to most of the manufacturers and whittled the number down to two or three likely ones. In the end Renault came up with the best package. We now have 20 Premium 420s; all 6x2s with lift axles.
''We specify the single-occupancy cab, which the drivers say they like as it gives them a lot more living space and a wider bunk. They lose the footwell on the passenger side but use the space under the raised floor to stow clean items such as safety helmets and florescent jackets that they have to carry.
"Half of the 420s went into the tipping fleet fitted with a PTO and wet Idt. The others went into the tanker fleet. We operate self-contained bulker trailers equipped with donkey engines to produce the compressed air for the blowers. We have a few spare trailers to meet emergencies but normally each unit is dedicated to a specific trailer.
Our three-year R&M contract-lease agreement covers every thing except glass and tyres. As we have our own workshops we arranged for the local dealer, RH Commercials of Nottingham, to train up our own staff to carry out routine inspections and maintenance. They were very supportive in getting vehicles on the road in the shortest time.
"Since then we have had three areas of serious concern. Two of the trucks have needed a new engine management computer and three had the cooling fan destroyed by a loose cowling. But, what was worse, it took the wiring loom with it. Two of the 400-litre fuel tanks ruptured for no other reason than sitting on the supports. We knew it had been a problem with earlier Premiums but thought it had been addressed.
"We have the smaller tank as it gives us more ground clearance to run into quarries. As no replacements were readily available the trucks were off the road for four weeks. The dealer now has a spare tank in case one is needed again. Where ours were off the road for 24 hours the dealer came to our aid and provided alternative trucks.
Kinky air bags
"Another area of concern is the air bags for the suspension on the mid-lift axle. They have a tendency to kink instead of folding properly which probably looks worse than it actually is.
"Payload was one of our reasons for buying the Premium. It is a lot better than a lot of the other manufacturers can manage— we get in excess of 3o tonnes with our lightest trailers.
'We are contracted for 120,000krn a year and return 7mpg. That's not good by some people's standards but we are operating in hilly conditions locally and it compares well across the fleet, even with the Cumminsengined Fodens.
"Spare parts are generally OK but others, especially those that pertain to our type of operation, can be inordinately expensive. A stone can take out a headlamp that costs boo to replace completely, while a glass lens would cost just a few pounds. Mudguards cost boo each while I can get a pair at 1,3o for the Fodens. We already have 44ohp with the Fodens and now with 44 tonnes, and the hills in this area, we would like to move up to this level of power with the Renaults sooner rather than later."