SPINK'S SPANKING NEW VOLVOS
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TH()12.1.2.1-1CAL calculations usuall,,,, show that replacing ii
vehicle Mien it is just one year old is not a good decision. lint W. G. Spink of Richmond, North Yorkshire, shows that it can be a perfectly viable policy.
['his haulage company carries steel out 01-Darlington for just tine
customer. I he eight-vehicle fleet is based on Volvo Flla units, including the reliati%,ely rare Eli) Globetrotter.
(,coi) Spink's policy is to keep the units for 12 months and then sell them, usually back to his local Volvo
dealer, against a nev,, one. It is not a _
pre-arranged buy-back deal and the price is negotiated each time.
How does he nialsze this pay.: Spink says that on average the hl Os depreciate by a very moderate Op a mile in the first year. Set against this is a III VIll'Intie maintenance bill. The company's workshop set-up is small: between then, the mainn,wturer's warranty and automatic chassis lubrication take care of -most things.
Ile vcr 1 C phCed a Volvo brake lining.says Spink. -My fitters spend more time on the trailers.
A high annual mileage also helps. The Spink units are worked intensively to chick up Over 2.55,000km a year. back-Itiaded as well. With virtually zero downtime this level of utilisation gives the units a vast earning por;:ntial, Spin-off from this riipid replacement policy also includes a constantly smart fleet (demanded by the customer), happier drivers and a better night',s,.. sleep for Spink.