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"The driver is happy with the truck and so are we."

18th October 2001
Page 32
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Page 32, 18th October 2001 — "The driver is happy with the truck and so are we."
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Rob Tipping

II Animal feed manufacturer Massey Bros can trace its history back to the mid 19th century and remains a family concern with Richard Massey as managing director. From its base at Holmes Chapel, Cheshire the company supplies more than 2,000 customers in north-west England and north-east Wales.

Transport manager Rob Tipping says: "We have i3 trucks with the 14th on its way as we speak." Massey's fleet includes rigid and artic blowers and tippers rated at up to 41 tonnes gross, with a single t8-tonner. "In the past we have bought a mix of ERF and Foden models which, until recently, was in support of the local economy. We have no problem with the Foden product but before settling on the 18-tonne Alpha 2000 last November we looked at equivalent models from both Daf and ERF.

"The Foden specification was right for us and the overall package was best on price. Daf was let down on the cost of its aftersales; ERF came somewhere in between.

"The truck is used to deliver bagged feed to farms and wholesalers in the Pennines and North Wales, away from the motorways. It replaces the Seddon Atkinson Strata 210 we had for seven years. It struggled to compete with the terrain so on the Foden we chose the stronger 235hp option coupled to a nine-speed gearbox. Fuel consumption has averaged ii.o6mpg over the first io months, which is about the same as we got from the Strato.

"The Alpha's all-steel day cab is too small which left us with the option of a sleeper. Traditionally Foden used its own plastic cabs, but time moves on. With alloy wheels and a Boalloy Tautliner body, which gives us all the loading/unloading flexibility that we need, the truck can carry 10.5 tonnes of feed.

"We bought the Foden 2000 with a fiveyear repair and maintenance package—it was the best deal on offer. Our initial plan is to replace the truck after six years as experience tells us that repair costs can escalate in the seventh year, but trucks are getting better all the time. We expect to average about 72,000km a year. The local dealer is now FISEEI commercials, a halfhour away at Stoke. They are the best Foden dealer we have come across for servicing; they take care to do those extra little jobs that are sometimes missed. They operate a night time service and do collect but we drop the trucks in when we can.

"The only glitch we have had is with the stop/start relay. We have had two but were fortunate to be close to home when the fault occurred.

"In the past we have sold some of our heavier trucks to owner-drivers who are contracted to us; otherwise we trade them in. Foden's residuals are not as good as those for Volvo or Scania but if you pay less up front then you must expect less at the end. We have not had to replace a single tyre on the Alpha 2000 yet but one of the brake drums was changed.

"The large cab with its air suspended seat is comfortable and gives a good ride. The driver is happy with the truck and so are we." • The low cab floor combined with wide, minated, anti-slip steps, well-placed grab dies and wide, fully opening doors to en the easy access needed on a distribution • cle. On the construction version the boi step was hinged to fold back if it hit an o cle on site. To cope with arduous open conditions tippers were also fitted with an minium roof hatch, in place of the stan safety glass, and an extra radiator guard.

Inside the cab the driver had a comforl working environment that was spacious a surprising amount of stowage space. It re of the dashboard was a large storage Err with smaller compartments in the s and above the windscreen; sleeper cabs generous storage space under the bunk an optional storage box could be mounted le engine tunnel.

im was a restful two-tone blue. The ; were trimmed in velour which was to be durable and easy to keep clean— could eventually contribute to higher lual values.

a air-suspended seat provided an extra of comfort for the driver. Optional iry and Super Luxury seats were available features such as leather trimming.

river and passenger seats were both pped with integral seat-belts. Other stan[ features included a Gmndig radio-cas. player (with easy-to-read LED rotary pre:tation selector) and an electric nearside low, A wide range of factory fitted options ided sun visors, air horns, Eberspacher a heaters and a second bunk.

11 models in the Alpha range carried a year, bumper-to-bumper warranty that :lied the best in Europe and was not ed to a repair and maintenance contract. irlier this year Foden announced its next generation Alpha range. For the IS-tonner this bought increased driver comfort, a wider choice of wheelbases, electronically controlled disc brakes, ZF six-speed transmissions, more final-drive gears, three power choices (I 8.5hp, 2 2ohp and 25ohp) and a range of optional extras.

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