Abbey is looking for reliability in Euro-6 trial
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By Hayley Pink
ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY will be key to determining the winning truck in Abbey Logistics' four-way manufacturer head-tohead Euro-6 trial, which kicked off last week. The trial, revealed in CMearlier this year (CM19 September), will see Abbey put Daf's Euro-6 offerings to the test alongside trucks from MercedesBenz, Volvo and MAN, in a tender that will see the successful marque securing up to £30m of business in the next seven years. Seven trucks will be tested in comparable conditions over six months: two Daf XF105.460s; two MAN TGX 26.480s; one Mercedes Actros 2548; and two Volvo FH 460s. All will be fitted with inline fuel flow meters to measure fuel performance to 0.001mpg accuracy, and the trial will take into account maintenance labour rates, top 30 parts pricing and
residual values, with driver feedback also considered.
Abbey workshop manager Chris Dobbie said: "I'll be looking for absolute reliability from the trucks, which will save workshop downtime. I'll be focusing on the levels of maintenance service provided, any breakdowns, and driver feedback." MD Steve Granite said the firm's fleet expansion plans, to take it from 250 to 400 vehicles within five years, mean it is imperative it makes the right choice to ensure it
remains competitive and reliable.
Heading up the trial is independent adjudicator David Batty, chairman of the British Transport Advisory Consortium, who said: "I was commissioned to draw up vehicle specifications for Abbey, ensuring that the specification is what is required by the business rather than what manufacturers want to sell.
"This controlled Euro-6 testing will provide Abbey with a total whole life cost of ownership for each truck."