NEW AND USED?
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The finance payments on a new truck are potentially ruinous for a new business, but then so are the repair bills on an old banger. The Hill brothers struck lucky with their first two trucks — used Daf XF95s from local main dealer Watts Truck and Van, one of which remains on the fleet to this day — and have stuck with the marque and dealer ever since.
These days they take a mix of new and used tractors: most recently an intake of three new and three used XF105 460s, which arrived in March. Tellingly, it is difficult to distinguish between the new and used trucks; such is the standard of presentation at Jaga.
There is a difference in performance though: the newer trucks, which incorporate Daf's ATe engine technology, return between 8.7mpg and 9mpg, while the older models manage around 8.3mpg at 44 tonnes.
Other makes have been hired in at busy times, but Daf — thanks to its combination of dealer support, driver appeal, sensible pricing and good performance — looks set to be the marque of choice for the foreseeable future. Indeed, the brothers are already anticipating the arrival of their first Euro-6 models in 2015.
James sums up the new/used balance: "Used trucks are attractive purchases and have served us well, but you mustn't let the fleet get too old. Ultimately, it's better to pay more for the vehicle and less for its maintenance while benefitting from better performance."