"We expect to keep them for about seven years"
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Andy Carr
Business relocation specialist Romford Office and Commercial Removals (ROC) is a company on the move—Andy Can, managing director of the Barking-based firm, has just completed a management buyout from the company's original partner and is already planning his first acquisition.
"My father started the business 28 years ago and today we provide the total move solution which includes commercial removals, in-house relocations, IT relocations, crate hire, archival storage and confidential document destruction," he says. "Over the past seven years we have built up our truck fleet to 20 vehicles. We still have two Mercedes-Benz 84 7.5-tonners, which have worked well, but in 19 93 we bought our first Iveco Super Cargo and now we are predominantly an Iveco Ford fleet with vehicles ranging from Escort vans to a EuroStar, including four 17o/18oE23s, all with personalised number plates.
"There were several reasons for buying the Super Cargo but the main one was because I liked the styling, which has a good visual impact," he adds. "They're white, so they need to be washed regularly, and we keep them looking tidy. The price was good against the Mercedes and Scanias at the time and they came with a comprehensive R&M package. It provides us pretty much with known costs—we just have to tax, insure and put the fuel and oil in. If I had thought that one of the other trucks would have done the job better I would have bought it instead!
"We don't normally run with a very heavy payload," says Cart "The average is only 4-5 tonnes, but the trucks are equipped with large 2,000ft3 (57m3) bodies. That's why we went for the higher powered 23ohp version. The bodywork is supplied locally by GM Billings at Loughton. When we wanted a four-man crew-cab we went back to Billings to convert the sleeper cab. They took out the bunk and fitted two seats facing each other which gives plenty of leg room.
"The nine-speed transmission is an other plus point," he says. -The truck accelerates quicIdy, and with the more powerful engine it can hold its speed on the motorway. It's better for fuel consumption too; they return about 4-15mpg. Annual mileage is low, between 40,000 and 80,0ookm a year, depending on the area of work. They're not worked hard and we expect to keep them for about seven years when we will part-exchange them.
"Clutches are our most replaced part on trucks that run all the time in London traffic," he reports. "Iveco had trouble with axle seals early on, but with the R&M package we don't have any problem with reliability. The trucks are serviced every six weeks by Dagenham Motors, which is just down the road; they pick up on any minor defects then and put them right. The trucks are serviced overnight so there's no downtime and no need to hire in vehicles to cover.
"I can only remember one incident where we used Iveco's breakdown cover," says Carr. "The truck was in Birmingham and experienced a fault with the gear linkage. Having the R&M contract made it easier—the local dealer came out and fixed it overnight. We provide our customers with the best service we can; when we are the customer we like to receive equally good service. We do from Iveco." •