DRIVERS' VERDICTS As usual, we took our test tractor out
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on the road to ask some professional drivers to try it for size and give us their comments. With the EuroStar 520, we had no shortar of volunteers...
Martin Daniels was sitting in a Dof 2800 when we approached him but told us that he normally drives a Scania 143 450 for Freeway Fruit Distribution out of Cosham near Portsmouth. He looked around inside the Turbostar, examined the hanging space at the end of the bunks and said: "It's got plenty of stowage. The small gear lever makes it a bit easier to move about but the box in the middle of the cab would get in the way. The mattress looks thick enough; I normally like to sleep on the bottom bunk but the net would stop you rolling out of the top bunk. That top window is a good idea. It makes it easier to see if anyone is poking about the lorry at night." After two minutes' instruction on the use of the SAMT transmission we moved off. "You don't even know its got a load on," said Daniels. "Pulling-wise it's stronger than my Scania but then it has got a more powerful engine. Gear changes seem to take longer than with a manual gearbox but they are smooth. The cab is ever so quiet. The steering is light and the ride is comfortable—it might even be slightly smoother than mine. It didn't appear to roll much on that roundabout but I was taking it a bit easy. The brakes are progressive but you know they are there. I'll need to use more revs if I'm going to get much out of this exhaust brake though. Electric windows are nice, but it's one more electrical thing to go wrong." Stephen Howes from Rotherham drives a MAN 17.322 for TNT. "The cab is high," he said as he climbed in. "If you're young and fit it's not a problem but it might be a bit more difficult for someone older. You certainly wouldn't want to jump down from here," he added. Out on the road he was a little unsure of SAMT box at first and coming on to the first hill he let the engine work: "It sounds like a big engine but it surprised me the way it pulled up there," he commented. "It just hung on at about 1,300rpm in the middle of the green." As we approached a roundabout he let the revs drop below 950rpm and without moving his foot off the accelerator he flicked the gear lever to make a block change. "You don't have to think about what gear you need and the system double-declutched all on its own. The cab rolls a bit more than mine but I wouldn't complain about the ride. Although the clutch pedal isn't used there isn't enough space at the side to straighten your leg, but otherwise I think the layout is good. I like the mirror adjustment down here and the one-piece blind for the front screen. If you travel north in the morning and south in the afternoon these side blinds are really worthwhile. Stowage space is phenomenal," he added, "but it could do with a can holder in the middle and compartment to keep bits and pieces. If I need my sun glasses I want to be able to put my hand on them straight away. I've never liked the radio in the header rail. It would be nicer high up on the dash. Lifting the steering wheel gives more room to move across the cab but someone bigger than me might have trouble. That mattress wouldn't be thick
concluded. enough For me either," he
"The door opens from the driving "I like the large
Martin Daniels: 'You don't even know it's got a load on."
Steven Howes: "You don't have to think about what gear you need.''
Bob Cosby drives a Scania 113 for Carpet Express out of Tunbridge Wells. nice and wide but it's quite a stretch to pull it closed," he said, leaning out seat. On his way out of BP's truck park onto the road Cosby commented: mirror on the nearside but the small one on the nearside also gives a good view of the rear end on a tight turn. This amount of power is so different to what I'm used to: it allows you to take two and three gears at a time. This is the way transmissions will have to go; it takes all of the effort out of the job." At about 40mph he added: "There is a bit more wind noise than on mine but the ride is better. I like the audible warning for the indicator. If it doesn't cancel you know straight away and don't drive on for miles with it flashing. The cab has got a lot of space and with the air conditioning and built-in night heater it would be fine to live in."