Volvos voted best
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• Drivers prefer Volvo trucks — according to the International Transport Workers' Federation.
In a survey, entitled European Professional Freight Drivers' Vehicle Preferences, the ITWF asked 3,200 trades union member drivers in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands to List in order of preference the trucks they have driven since 1980 and each marque was awarded points according to its placing on the list.
Volvo proved the most popular, both in Britain and over the five countries as a whole. In Europe Mercedes/ Daimler Benz was second just ahead of Scania.
Daf and Leyland come fourth and fifth respectively, and their combined totals would put them in second place — but still well behind Volvo.
Leyland owes its fifth place entirely to the British contingent: Not a single European truck driver listed a Leyland vehicle among his preference — and that also goes for ERFs, Scammells and Fodens.
The ITWF survey also asked drivers to suggest how vehicles could be improved to make working conditions easier. The most common request was for better vision (487 suggestions), closely followed by improved heating (479). There were also 409 suggestions for proper night heaters, reflecting the increasing use throughout Europe of sleeper cabs, while 204 drivers called for lower incab noise levels and 150 suggested that truck seats should be improved.
El A total of 1,097 questionnaires were completed by British drivers; members of the Transport and General Workers' Union or the United Road Transport Union.