Page 125 - ITUK Press Cuttings 2017

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we've always been impressed with Daf's roadside rescue
service."
The hot boxes are built either by Econ Engineering or
Phoenix Engincering, and ND Brown has a particularly
close relationship with the latter.
It ideally keeps trucks for up to flve years. At present
many of them are three years old or younger, says
Fernyhough. That means theY are Euro-6, something
that should appeal to customers that are under pressure
to minimise emissions in urban areas.
Around 100 vehicles are disposed of each year' They
go to end-users. virtually all in the UK' who want to buy
used rather than hire or buY new.
"Demand is pretty reasonable and prices are quite
good at present." says Fernl'hough.
The company can comprehensively refurbish a truck
prior to disposal. ''We know hot box bodies inside out
and we can completely reconstruct them if we need to,"
he says.'A11 our trucks are for sale, no matter how old
they are. If we've got one that's no more than 12 months
old. is off-hire and stood, and somebody wants to buy it
thcn we'll talk to them."
He does tend to be cautious about taking any trade-ins
that are offered. "We know the history of the trucks on
our fleet but rve won t know the history of a part-
exchange.
"Tf it's a hot box. however, then that's different
because rve're the hot box specialists and we'll
,.l probabll' know the vehicle an1'lvay'"
While mileage is a key consideration
for anybody contemplatingbuying a
second-hand tractor unit, it is an issue
that seldom arises with ND Brown's
the know: MD Mark
vehicles. "It's rare that we see anything
rnyhough says ND Brown
that's done more than 200,000km,
ows hot boxes tnside out and
although the fact that PTOs may have
n reconstTuct them if need be
been nrn does, of course, have to be taken
Customers hire trucks for two nlonths on average
rd everything is inctuded in the hire charge. "The only
Ling we charge extra for is repairing anv damage," says "lf it's a hot box, however, then that's different
because we're the hot box specialists and we'[[
:rn5,hough.
"We're achieving over 80% fleet utilisation at the
roment and beyond that it can start getting a bit probabty know the vehicle anYwaY"
ncomfortable. We need to have exchange vehicles
iailable so that we can support customers ii one of the
ucks they've hired from us breaks down or if there is I So far as compliance with clocs and Fors is concerned, ND Brown was
rme other issue with it." j equipping its trucks with all the necessary mirrors, cameras, sideguards
Demand for rental trucks with hot boxes is seasonal, f and audible and visual warnings two-and-a-half years ago, says
sually declining in the surlmer as council crews are i Fernyhough. "A lot of our new trucks are fitted with an additional, low-level,
,vitched to grass cutting - or go on holiday - and away I window in the passenger door, too," he adds
'om highway repairs. "In winter, of course, it's colder, so I As yet, the f leet does not feature tippers with cyclist-friendly low-height
ou need a hot box to keep the material at the right i cabs, but if customers want them then the company will look at acquiring
:mperature." r{5 : I them.
ffi : Fernyhough believes they have their limitations and these can be
,aytoad capacity ffi ; if they have to venture off-road on to loose and uneven surfaces.
"rpo."d
Vhile several different makes are featured - some of the "ffi ; 'grt we're willing to keep an open mind," he says
S-tonners are Isuzus or Fusos because of their high -ffi_; "Bear rn mind too that you cannot keep throwing all the responsibility for
,ayload capacity, as well as Ivecos, Renaults and MANs ffi X tf-," safety of cyclists on to trucks. Cyclists have to be educated and take
Dafs figure strongly in the fleet. "We've got a good ffi X r"rpon.ibility for their safety as well, and they have to be aware that red
elationship with Greenhous, the local Daf dealer. Any 4# i tiqf,tr apply to them as well as to drivers
varranty claims are considered quite fairly, we fee1. and
131 t.l 17 C0M [/ ERCIAL M0T0R
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