Abbey sets Euro-6 challenge
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COVER STORY By Hayley Pink
ABBEY LOGISTICS has challenged four truck manufacturers to a head-to-head Euro-6 trial, with the winner chosen to provide replacement vehicles for its 235strong fleet.
Daf, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and MAN will be taking part in the competitive tender, which will start on 1 December and run for six months. One truck from each manufacturer will work on a heavyduty, round-the-clock shunting job, with another working in a general pallet operation.
The Liverpool-based firm, which specialises in tanker operations and palletised freight, has hired an independent expert to run the tender process and provide detailed analysis of each truck's operating costs, including fuel consumption, maintenance and residual values. Abbey MD Steve Granite said: "They've all got the same standard
specification and, at the end of this extensive trial, we will be provided with a whole-life cost for each manufacturer. We're really excited about this. There is no one [else] doing such an in-depth analysis and we're keen to see the results." Each test vehicle will be fitted with Fleetboard telematics to take into account how well it has been driven, as well as fuel-monitoring
devices. Abbey will research the cost of maintaining each truck, which Granite said can be difficult as each vehicle is on a full R&M warranty, including a cost comparison of the most common replacement parts required on its fleet.
He added that he plans to be "very open" with the manufacturers and let them see the results once the trial is concluded.