"Tatty tippers is too true
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Your comments on "Tackling tatty tippers" (CM January 30) could not be more correct. All too often, lack of maintenance leads to unexpected breakdowns with no planning to replace the vehicle while off the road. A good percentage of breakdowns repaired in our truck centres, for example, could have been avoided with better maintenance schemes.
Mine is doubtless not the only company to have shown, with hard indisputable statistics that planned, preventive maintenance pays, even for hard-pressed tipper operators. Prayer would, however, appear to be a more acceptable solution • to many.
Fortunately for the operators the servicing centres are, by and large, not so optimistic and, with the modem facilities now available, can get a vehicle back on •the road without unnecessary delay.
But for the efficient operator any delay should be unnecessary. With continuing maintenance he can be almost certain to have use of the vehicle when it is required and get top price for it when selling or exchanging.
Moreover, it is not as if the truck servicing companies operate on a totally inflexible 9 to 5, no weekend work basis. My company, doubtless like many others involved in servicing, is more than happy to provide a maintenance service to operators of tipper vehicles, and others, during evenings and weekends so that vehicles can be serviced when they are not required on site.
One further point : no operator can afford to risk the loss of his 0 licence because of poor maintenance. That ultimate sanction, if nothing else, should be sufficient to persuade tipper owners to take a serious look at the preventive maintenance
options open to them.
RALPH J. TOMLINSON, Truck Marketing Manager, Kays Truck Centres, Beaconsfield, Bucks.