TERBERG DTS
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The demise of Reliance Mercury in Halifax in August 1998 was not only damaging for the local economy—with hundreds of its distribution tractors in service, operators were left with the problem of maintaining them.
As the saying goes, when one door closes another opens, and before long former Reliance engineer Alisdair Couper teamed up with salesman Duncan Stewart to establish Distribution Tractor Services in nearby Sowerby Bridge.
Initially DTS gave existing tug users the backup they required— which was no mean feat, considering that the Hauimajor tug was an ageing design. Gouger set out to find a more modern replacement and turned to Terberg.
Based in Benschop, Holland, this 126-year-old family firm builds a range of specialist vehicles and equipment, including modern depot tractors with air suspension and two or four-wheel drive.
Beneath the cabs is the familiar Cummins/Allison driveline with Volvo FL front and Mentor drive axles; low profile tyres are optional, To date the West Yorkshire firm has supplied well over 100 Terbergs into the UK distribution market.
Clients include Asda, Britvic, Great Bear and TS—TNT even has an LPGpowered Terberg.
Few operators are equipped to work on tugs, hence the optional R&M contract offered with every Terberg sold; it's backed up by four fully equipped service vans.
Today the company, which recently merged with Terberg, has a staff of 14 (many of them ex-Reliance Mercury) and home is still a crowded workshop rented from nearby repair and recovery firm Stoneycross Motors.
This will all change next month when Terberg DTS moves three miles down the road into a new 2,300m2 purpose-built factory at Elland,just a stone's throw from J24 of the M62.