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Family-run site heads for 24-hour operation
Page 68
Page 69
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After 30 years in the business Bell Trucks is still growing.
CM loacs at what this mainly Mercedes-Benz dealer has to offer.
When Mercedes-Benz kicked off its official franchise dealerships in 1974 Bell Trucks was one of the first to get involved. Now,just a month from -"wk""ftirlio, its 30th year. the family-run business re-opened its tailor-made Bill ingham site to existing and future customers in the North-East following a nal investment.
BellTtucks employs 30 people on the Cowpen Industrial Estate site but is looking to double that as the company evolves, based on customer supply and demand, towards a 24hour site with a permanently open workshop.
Dealer principal at the site is Gary Graham; he is confident the investment will pay off. "With 10 workshop bays and a whole host of servicing initiatives we're very much geared up to keeping our customers' vehicles running to maximum economy, and to keeping them off the road for as little time as possible.
Especially with our 24-hour support facilities," he said.
Over the past three years, chairman Jim Bell has toned down his involvement leaving the day-to-day running of the company to directors Yvonne Bell and Carolyn Bayne.The company grew from the 1920s as a transport and haulage business before getting involved with the Mercedes-Benz dealership.
There are two other satellite dealerships at Spennymoor and Newcastle and all three sell new and used products from the Vito van up to the Actros tractor.At Billingham there are around 30 used vehicles at any one time with all the sites selling used products.
Vehicles come hack through buy-backs and part-exchange, regardless of make, but the majority arrive from Mercedes-Benz through its Approved Used Vehicles programme out of Signature in Barnsley.
The company offers Signature-based warranties as well as finance and contracthire.A recent example has been the Actros promotion offering operators a truck for £189 (ex-VAT) per week with full repair and maintenance. Used vehicle sales consultant Keith Walker says six trucks have sold recently through this scheme at Billingham.
Current stock
Always a good seller for dealers is the 7.5-tonne dropside and this Atego should find a new home quickly. X242 JNS was first registered in January 2001. and the fourcylinder 150hp Euro-3 diesel engine has clocked 134,965km in that time.The mileage, the three seats. and the day cab all point to local work. It's priced at £14,995 (ex-VAT).
Next up is August 1998-plated S630 FUB which is on offer for £189 (ex-VAT) per week on full repair and maintenance dealThis 4x2 Actros 1840 has been repainted and refurbished, with side-skirts fitted as part of the Pulsar package.
It is plated at 38 tonnes, which would suit an own-account operator CAP recommended price is £11,350 (ex-VAT). •