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Buying defence
Page 7
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THERE are no better vehicle: in the 7.5 to 10 ton categon than Bedfords or 'Ford! according to Peter Thompson chief executive of NFC. Mi Thompson was defending tlu corporations policy of buyini British in London this week.
Of the 3,364 vehicle! purchased by NEC in 1978 on13 206 were foreign and some oi these were British-buili Volvos. Last year the NFC wa! criticised for buying foreigr vehicles.
Mr Thompson said that th( Dodge 100-series Commandc had also proved itself well ir service and went on to say that NFC's cost evaluation exercise favoured British vehicles. NFC has been deeply involved ir the development of Leyland Vehicles longawaited T4f. range.
Mr Thompson dismissed suggestions based on populai opinion that NFC was wrong in selecting British vehicles He said that the NFC selections were based on proven fact. "How do small operator: measure cost effectiveness" he asked. "I suggest they cannot carry out proper comparison; because they do not have the size of fleet or facility to produce the accurate results WE achieve."
NFC operates 19,10C vehicles with a carrying capacity of 172,900 tons and covering 433 million miles a year, it employs 36,500 people.
Mr Thompson agreed that the size of the NFC vehicle fleet entitled them to receive a premium after sales service which figures in the cost evaluation. The cost evaluation had been made over every make and model range which the NEC requires for every day service.