Trucks on trial
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Boughey Distribution takes great care when buying new vehicles. CM spoke to group fleet engineer Paul Brimelow and drivers Bob Hall and Jimmy Jackson about its current fleet refresh
Words: George Barrow INVESTING MONEY in new assets is always a process that requires careful consideration. But when the investment runs to several million pounds and affects your operating costs, that decision becomes even more critical, which is why Boughe■,, Distribution takes buying new vehicles so seriously.
With more than 60 vehicles due to be replaced over the next six months, group fleet engineer Paul Brimelow has a difficult task ahead in selecting the right vehicles to fulfil the needs of a fleet that covers 212,000 miles a week. It's not the first time Brimelow and Boughey have been in this situation. though.
Testing process In 2006, the company started a lengthy testing process to determine the suitability of a range of trucks ahead of a large replacement order. Having previously operated a selection of vehicles, including ERFs and Volvos, the company decided to select the latest tractor units from four manufacturers: Volvo; Scania; MAN; and DAE Each manufacturer was asked to provide a carefully selected vehicle specification for the trial to conduct a fair comparison. The aim was to assess the fuel efficiency and driver response to each of the vehicles. while considering dealer support, lifetime costs and residual values.
Fair comparison Brunelovv says: We wanted to do a proper comparison, to get meaningful figures that represent what the trucks would be doing on a daily basis.
"We asked the manufacturers to provide fuel-efficient vehicles and prepared them where we could to match the trac to' units to the trailers for optimum performance. We ran each of the marques over a test route, swapping trailers to offset any variables such as tyres, brakes or slight weight differences. As a result. we dropped Scania and DAF from our tests."
With two of the four test vehicles eliminated, next came the difficult job of deciding between the MAN TGS and the Volvo FH. With a live-year buying plan at stake, and fuel consumption under scrutiny, the manufacturers brought in their specialist drivers to show the Boughey lads how economical their trucks could be.
"The trucks were run over the same routes at 15-minute intervals with Volvo and MAN drivers at the wheel.The vehicles returned to site and the trailers were swapped to offset any variables, and the same route was then completed using Boughey drivers. They beat the fuel figures achieved by the manufacturers' drivers," Brimelow says with a smile.
Driving the Boughey way Bob Hall, one of the drivers involved in the tests who now heads up Boughey's driver training programme, was also pleased with the result, attributing the success to driving "the Boughey way".
After the final trial, Boughey decided to buy 60 new MANs based, in part, on the 0.4mpg victory over the Volvos during the test. But, three and a half years on, some minor issues with the trucks have prompted Brimelow to revisit the test process and ensure his next 60 vehicles are still the best for the job.
"In the next nine months, all our original Volvos are due for renewal and, with 10 of the Volvos due to be replaced by the end of November, we thought it was an ideal time to see if the new MAN TGX was still better suited than the Volvo FH. So, we bought five of each to conduct a new trial."
Despite MAN supporting many of the out-of-warranty problems, Boughey needed to know if the additional down time was worth the fuel-efficiency benefits.The MAN fleet averages 9.4mpg against the ageing Volvos' 8.9mpg, but a driver-training programme and automatic gearboxes across the test vehicles may put the rivals on a more even footing.
Fresh from their success in beating the manufacturers own men. Hall and his colleague Jimmy Jackson now teach other drivers how to get the best out of the new trucks.
Hall says: "The Boughev way of driving is switching between manual and automatic to get the best fuel consumption. We're always monitoring how our drivers perform and if their consumption starts to increase, we go back out with them and give them a refresher."
Automatic vs manual
Jackson says: "Even on the new automatic gearboxes, the drivers can still use the manual mode. A good driver will get the best out of a manual, whereas a middle-of-the-road driver will probably be better off staying in auto.
-We teach our drivers both manual and automatic, as well as teaching them defensive driving techniques and the importance of forward planning."
The combination of a staff room full of well-trained drivers and a fleet of vehicles that are meticulously cared for with a strict tyre policy — all new trucks are fitted with Michelin tyres using re-mix on the rear axle and previously used re-mix or re-cut tyres on the midlift axle — Boughey ensures it gets the maximum value and performance from its trucks. The attention to detail means Brimelow even knows precisely the total amount of tread depth left across his entire fleet — 2,5m,
Trial conclusion
With less than a month to go until the trial is scheduled to end, and with two months of on-the-road test data (generated from predetermined test routes of up to five hours and more than 100 miles. taking in motorways, country roads and city centres) Brimelow. Jackson and Hall think it's too close to decide at the moment.
-Even though we've been running the trucks for a while, it's too early to tell. We've been careful not to assume anything about these tests.
-You should never assume that you always operate at full weight, which is why the trucks are loaded at 22 tonnes. our average load weight. And although MAN won in the past, it might not win again," Brimelow finishes. •
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