Iraq Operators Place Accent on Maintenance
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UIGH standards of maintenance are adhered to by the Khanaqin Oil Co., Ltd., who operate a fleet largely comprising Leyland Super Beavers and Comets on the distribution of petroleum products in Iraq. The Super Beayers have Steel Barrel and Butterfield 2,500-gal. tanks, whilst some are stake-sided lorries used to carry oil in containers. Comet tankers have Steel Barrel 1,500-gal. bodywork.
Vehicles are based at refineries at Baghdad, Basra and Khanaqin, also at garages in Kirkuk and Mosul. The Baghdad refinery supplies 23 filling stations in the city and about 150,000 gal.
c28 of liquid is moved each day. Outside the city the daily deliveries total up to 60.000 gal.
On these services, the Super Beavers tow Dyson and Carrimore 2,750-gal. tank trailers so that four depots can be served by one outfit. The trailer is emptied at the first two stops, detached, and picked up again after the prime mover has supplied the third and fourth.
Although modern highways are being built, the vehicles have had to contend with roads that are baked hard in summer and impassable at times during the rainy season from November-April. Tyre pressures are closely checked during the summer, when temperatures in the shade reach 120° F. Drivers are trained to use pressure gauges regularly.
To ensure utmost reliability, engines are scheduled to be changed at about 60,000 miles. A further 29 Super Beavers are due for delivery to the company' to cope with the increasing consumption of fuel in Iraq. Fifteen will be tankers and the remainder lorries.
The company have a high reputation in the Middle East for their maintenance methods, and their vehicles have covered nearly 8m. miles.