DRIVERS' VERDICTS
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As usual, we invited a number of experienced truck drivers to take our test vehicle for a run and give us their views...
Brian Berry from Kidlington has held an HGV licence for four years and drives a Volvo F16 17tonner all over the country for Aurelia Plastics. He is one of the shortest drivers that we have ever asked for comments, so entry to the cab is one of the points that is important to him. "The door handle is at a good height for me," he said before climbing the three staggered steps to the driving seat. With the door still open he looked down at the adjustments: "I like the squab tilted slightly forwards. I haven't got a suspension seat in my truck." The optional air suspension seat seemed a bit to reactive for him so before setting off he locked it out. "The pedals are just about right for me and they are not too heavy. The gear lever has about the some throw as the Volvo but the steering wheel is a bit bigger. The steering is OK though. It's quite direct'. Twin stalks on the left of the steering column raised some criticism: "They are much too close together. It would be so easy to trap your fingers between them. The ride is fine but I am not so keen on the suspension seat. Visibility is good but the overhead door mirror needs to be a bit further back for me. The colour inside is all right and I can reach most of the controls but the radio is just out of reach." Glynn Drew has been driving trucks for more than 29 years and holds a class one HGV licence. He currently drives a Scania 93.210 for NB Potter (Haulage) out of Wellingborough. Being taller and heavier than Berry he found the driving seat suspension more to his liking: "There is plenty of room to climb in and the seat is just right. I don't like it too soft." After we had travelled a little way down the road he said: "You don't need to use all the gears. It pulled away in second easily then I could skip third and go straight into fourth. I think it pulls better than my Scania. The clutch is light. I can see all of the instruments, none of them is blanked off by the wheel." On the motorway, where we were limited to 56mph, he was able to confirm the Iveco's pulling power advantage. Brian Berry: Drives a Volvo FL6 for Aurelia Plastics; held a licence for four years.
The Iveco 17-tanner took the hill in top gear: "I had to drop one here in my Scania. I don't think my truck rolls as much as this one but its not bad. There is stacks of room in the cab with plenty of headroom. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of stowage space but it's probably ample for a tipper. It looks an easy colour to keep clean. I give it full marks. It's a nice truck".
Chris Ingham drives a Mercedes-Benz 1617 for Yieldingtree of Stourbridge: "I've been driving trucks for about 10 years," he told us as he settled himself behind the wheel. "Ah that's good—it's got heated mirrors and the low height of the windows in the doors helps with all-round vision. I can see the instruments clearly enough through the steering wheel."
All three drivers, despite their different weight and size, were content to leave the steering adjustment as they found it. As seat belts were fitted we all wore them—none of the drivers had worn them in a truck before. The demonstration vehicle was also fitted with dual passenger seat replacing the standard single seat and central package tray.