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Sweat those assets

22nd May 2008, Page 3
22nd May 2008
Page 3
Page 3, 22nd May 2008 — Sweat those assets
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Keywords : Sweat

While Transaction plans its next protest on 27 May (and the RHA Board prepares iito consider organising a mass Lobby of Parliament on a date yet-to-be-announced at its meeting next week...1CM readers staring at their balance sheets might be excused for thinking "What else can we do...?"

In truth, there's plenty. For example, when did you last check the tyre pressures on your trucks to see if they're properly inflated? Is the gap between your tractor and trailer so big it's wasting fuel? Why are your tippers driving down the road empty with their sheeting systems open? And who's analysing your tacho charts, or digitach data, Looking for signs of harsh accelerator and braking? If you can't control the simple, quantifiable costs in your business, how on earth will you manage the spiralling price of fuel?

In this week's CM you'll find a report on two new tippers one claimed to show fuel sayings of up to 2.5lit/100km, while the other offers an extra half-tonne of payload. Why mention them here? No reason, except that if you want to survive, you'd better start speccing your trucks for profit and not buying them out of habit. Look at the performance of any new asset no matter what it is or what it does. And before signing on the dotted line, ask the salesman what kind of performance

guarantee comes with it.

,^"41 If he says his truck is the Lightest, least thirsty and longest-lasting in the business, tell him if he wants your business he'd better be able to prove it or no sale. And once you've got that new asset, you'd better sweat it like never before. Which means keeping it on the road through proper fleet husbandry, for remember, -if it's not turning.., it's not earning.

Road transport isn't a calling, it's a business. No more, no Less... Brian Weathertey

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Organisations: RHA Board

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