OPERATOR FEEDBACK
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Among the operators that have put Iveco’s 4% fuel guarantee to the test, a number have already seen major improvements in their fuel economy. West Yorkshire-based Bedfords Transport put two new EcoStralis Active Space tractors into service in June. Measured against Bedford’s 80-strong fleet average of 8.47mpg, the pair delivered an average economy of 9.6mpg and 9.98mpg respectively during June and July, equivalent to a 15.6% saving against the company’s fleet average.
Bedfords fleet engineer Steve Hollingsworth says: “Iveco guaranteed the EcoStralis would deliver at least a 4% improvement in fuel economy against our fleet average, once the initial 20,000km runningin period was completed. In fact, we’ve literally smashed that target from the very start. What makes this performance particularly impressive was that it was during the holiday period when we had different drivers, including agency drivers behind the wheel. Now the initial 20,000km running-in period is over I’m confident the savings will increase further.” Based on 140,000km a year over three years, the EcoStralis’s enhanced fuel economy is projected to achieve savings in excess of £20,000 a vehicle. Since then, 12 more EcoStralis tractors have joined Bedfords’ fleet.
Ashford-based ACE Movements Transport was another early adopter of Iveco’s fuel guarantee, taking two EcoStralis
6x2 mid-lift Active Space Super3 tractors in July from Haynes Trucks on a three-year lease with R&M. MD Kevin Banbury says: “I’m very fussy on fuel, it’s most important as it’s now our single biggest cost and I like to keep a very close eye on it.”
Banbury reports that the two EcoStralis tractors (engaged on weekly multi-drop work running part-laden with pottery products as far north as Inverness, before returning south with a full load of stone) have been performing well. “They’ve been good. The fuel has been excellent.” They replaced two previous artics including a Cursor 13-engined Stralis 500. “That was a good truck,” says Banbury, “It used to do around 8.6mpg. However, the two EcoStralis are doing around 10.4mpg-10.6mpg. That’s excellent.” To see how much of a difference the ‘Eco’ function makes to the 460hp Cursor 10 engine, Banbury will run the trucks in ‘normal’ mode for a month by switching off the Eco function to see what effect it makes to the truck’s driveability and gear-changing characteristics on hills. To date, he’s more than happy with his Ivecos’ overall performance.