"We buy on price, reliability ad the support we receive from our
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preferred New dealer" Steve Benson
For the past 27 years World End Tiles of Battersea has been producing ceramic tiles in house and importing a wide range from Spain and Italy. Logistics manager Steve Benson looks after nine trucks which are used for distribution throughout London and the Home Counties.
"We have two Daf 45 ii-tonners and seven Iveco Super Cargo 17-tonners," he says. "The latest 18E 2305 are still plated at 17 tonnes—I'm expecting the Chancellor to make the tax for 18-tonners more expensive in the next Budget. We buy on price, reliability and the support we receive from our preferred Iveco dealer. I don't have fuel consumption figures but on paper the Iveco was only slightly worse than the Daf 17-tonner, which had a higher list price. Perhaps the Daf may work out cheaper in the long run.
"We looked at other makes but they were either built too heavy or were just too flimsy," he reports. "Our oldest Super Cargos date back to P-reg but we expect to run them for seven years. They're fitted with curtain-sided bodies, but because of the high density of the load we have them built just 20ft long. We get a payload of lo tonnes, or 9.5 tonnes if we fit a tail-lift.
"We have not been happy with the service from our local Iveco dealer but have got good support from Gray's of Guildford," says Benson. "They are too far away for routine servicing; instead we use Direct Auto Servicing who are very good and carry out all the work on site. Clutches are not as good as they should be; they can last less than 12 months and need replacing between 48,00 o and 58,000km. We moved from i8ohp up to 230hp in the hope that clutch life would improve. Iveco fits ceramic
clutches now which do last longer, but when they go they take the flywheel with them.
"Brake life could also be better," he adds. "With a lot of town work we find that the nearside front tyre scrubs. Iveco had a problem with gearbox build quality: something as simple as a missing split pin can lead to the gear linkage falling apart and the gear lever always separates from its mounting. Electrics have been pretty reliable but we occasionally have a problem with auxiliaries. Brake pipes chafe through where they pass through bulkheads.
"The cab is fine but it could be easier to clean," he says. "We do a lot of site work so the trim can get grubby—we need removable seat covers. The area behind the seats is difficult to reach and we would like to be able get a hose inside occasionally.
Stowage space for the
driver's paperwork, sandwich box and other bits and pieces could be better. If a drink gets spilled on the document box then it's there for the life of the vehicle. Iveco's Green Flag recovery is not bad but communication with updates back to the operator would be a big improvement."