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THE VERDICT
Page 50
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The eye is inevitably drawn to the market leaders in any sector, and when it comes to lightweight 8x4 tippers that means Daf, Scania and Volvo. They all scored highly when it came to cab comfort and driveability, which in turn produced good overall opinions. Undoubtedly driver retention is a leading issue for operators so they need to make sure the drivers, have everything they need.
Unsurprisingly in terms of cab comfort Alan McGuiness's Volvo FM12 led the way with all the bells and whistles he could fit into the cab, but Daf and Scania were not far behind. Out on the road Scania scored full marks with MAN also notching up a decent score. Renault, MAN and ERF the latter two should be seen as work in progress all lacked the refinement of the Paccar stable and the Swedes.
However, when it comes to sheer productivity it's Renault that steals the honours by a handsome margin. It's played the 21tonnes-plus payload card heavily since the launch of the lightweight Highway range and managed a creditable 21,260kg payload for this test. Next in the payload stakes were Scania's P380 and ERF's ECT but there's clear daylight between Renault and its nearest competitors.
Contenders relied on a wide range of engines and gearboxes: it was the MAN with its 12-speed Tipmatic gearbox that marched up the hill quickest; some eight seconds ahead of the Foden. Those fitted with range changes seemed to suffer here, with Scania and Renault looking relatively ponderous.
So by totting up the scores we can reveal that Scania walked away with the Gold Medal with Alan McGuiness and his Volvo hot on their heels. Joint third was Daf, MAN and Volvo's second contender. But productivity is Renault's trump card, and for many tippermen that will be the clincher.