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"We operate 5,000 trucks in three divisions 400 are 18 tanners and 188 of those are
Page 28
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MAN 2000s" Richard Catley a From humble beginnings in Australia in 1947, TNT (Thomas National Transport) has grown into one of the world's leading logistics companies, providing warehousing, transport and distribution. It operates more than 19,000 vehicles out of 840 depots in zoo countries. Over the past seven years TNT has averaged a year-onyear growth rate of 32% through a mixture of expansion and acquisition.
In the UK TNT has three divisions: Logistics, Express and Newsfast; Richard Catley is technical services manager for Logistics and Newsfast. "Before we buy a truck we evaluate its capacity to do the job and then we assess cost efficiency," he says. "That includes capital outlay, maintenance, fuel consumption and residual value. In other words the whole-life cost. We operate 5,000 trucks in three divisions-400 are t8tonners and 188 of those are MAN 2000S, hut we also run Dafs and lvmos. "The 22onp MAN is specified for TNT Newsfast operations and daytime distribution operations at 18 tonnes; it returns about 12.5mpg. TNT Newsfast vehicles operate night and day covering up to zoo,000krn a year.
"We also have 26 ohp and 220hp models downrated to 14. tonnes. The 26ohp models operate at 28 tonnes with drawbar trailers and do night trunking as well as day deliveries. They cover up to 8o,000 miles a year and average about 11.7mpg—the 22ohp vehicles return just over 13mpg. There is not a great difference in the initial cost of a genuine 14tonner and the t8-tonne model but we choose to downrate the 18-tonner because it gives us a better residual value.
"We have run these models since they were introduced in 1996. We take the L day cab and the Newsfast fleet is equipped with 24ft curtain-sided bodies with a tail-lift, which leaves us with a payload of approximately 9.5 tonnes. Other applications involve
a dropbody opera tion. The M2000 rigid can be specified with air sus
pension on both front and rear axles wli eliminates the need for extra hydraul They mount and demount bodies up to f times a day and stand up to the work well. Air suspension on the front axle ma the ride a little bit softer.
"We either buy or lease our trucks. Mos the servicing is done in-house so only a that run out of new operating bases co with an R&M contract so they can be lool after by the local dealer. Normally we disp of them through.the auctions. The L cal fairly robust and it has good acceptance the drivers. With a lot of coming and go. the seats tend to suffer, as in any tru Overall the MAN M2000 is good value fc fleet operator." El