DRIVERS' VERDICTS
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As usual, we took our test truck out and about to get a second opinion from some experienced LGV drivers. They gave it a gold medal rating.
Michael Maloney from Keighley, Yorkshire has been in transport for 15 years, for the past four years as an owner-driver. When we met at the Crick BP Truck Stop he was in a brand new Iveco Ford EuroTech 400E38. As soon as he climbed in the ERF he commented how comfortable he found the high-backed seat: "The windscreen isn't as deep as the Iveco but that gives more space for the lockers above," he said. We explained the intricacies of the ERF's SAMT transmission.
Out on the road he thought it was quieter than his EuroTech. As we approached a roundabout he allowed the engine's speed to fall away to 1,000rpm and with just a touch of the gear switch the system selected the appropriate gear. "I could get used to this," he said. Then he asked about the reliability of the gear selector. We told him we didn't know of any problems. "It's got it over mine on performance and it's so smooth between changes. You wouldn't want to go back to a manual after this. You don't have to think what gear you are in before changing and it's as quick as you could do it yourself. It could make you a very lazy man." It was raining, and as we approached the next roundabout we watched the truck in front lock up its wheels and almost jack-knife on spilt diesel. "The brakes are nice," said Maloney and slowed without a hint of locking. "The ride is smooth and for such a high cab it sits firm and doesn't roll much and the steering has a good feel." As we parked up he took note of the night heater and the blinds for the skylight and electric roof hatch. "It's well thought out even to the air vents over the bunk. Perhaps I might find something I disliked but I would need to drive it for a lot longer. I like the electric mirrors and the heated seat. It's been made so you won't want to get out of the cab." Before leaving he questioned the length of the wheel studs. We explained that the extra thickness of alloy wheels took up the surplus thread at the end of the studs. Rodney Ford, a self-employed relief driver, was driving a C Series ERF with the 350 Cummins engine and Eaton TwinSplitter box. In the Olympic cab he thought it was a bit tight to get from the drivers seat to the bunk. "It's nice and high inside and there's plenty of room. It would be ideal for continental runs. What's the overall height of the roof deflector?" We told him 3.9m and explained about only using the clutch to start and stop. "AI That just the some as with the TwinSplitter." Out on the road he told us: "It's very lively. I'm most impressed. There are no obvious blind spots and it's very soft on the suspension. I'm more used to driving a twin-steer but this gives a very good feel of the road. The fascia is a big improvement. I prefer the brown trim in mine but I like the carpet over the engine. The bunk looks my size and the sprung mattress should be comfortable." He asked about the night heater with the programme controlling time and temperature. "I think a plastic cab is a lot safer. In a bad crash it's less likely to crush in on you." John Chipping from West Thurrock drives a Volvo F110.320 for Eddie Stobart. "The cab is enormous," he said as we walked up to it. "This pearl finish is very nice." He looked around at the stowage and asked about security for the external locker. "It opens from inside the cab," we told him. He adjusted the steering wheel and the seat. "The driving position is so much better than mine. I like the big wheel and there is a space to write your tacho charts. The steering is nice and light. What happens if you are using the Jake brake and you want to change down?" We told him: "The engine brake cuts out momentarily." "It's got plenty of retardation," said Chipping. "I thought EPS was good but this gear change is even better. Electric mirrors are easy to reset. The curve on the dash makes things easy to reach. I can see all of the gauges, but the steering wheel cuts across the switches on the right-hand side. I've never driven anything as powerful as this before," he concluded, but it's so easy to keep in the green.
It doesn't feel like 38 tonnes at all." tonnes at all."
Chipping: It doesn't feel like 38 Maloney: "It could make you a very lazy man."