Nhat would the D1 010 cost to run?
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What are the cost implications for the verator contemplating buying the D1010 is tested?
Running through the cost factors as isted in the Commercial Motor Tables of 7perating Costs, the first item to be affected be the vehicle excise licence. The extra ;cwt in kerb weight due to the air suspension viii increase the annual licence by £13.50, r 30p a week. Wages should remain contant as should the next item, rent and rates.
Insurance will no doubt cost a little more )ecause the vehicle value is greater by a otal of £1475. In any case, repairs will be nore costly if the air suspension is involved. t is suggested that, unless the operator has very good relationship with his insurer nd a very strong negotiating position in elation to the size of his fleet, an estinated 10 per cent could be considered easonable for extra insurance.
Interest on the extra cost of £1475 at ine per cent a year could amount to an xtra £132.75 a year, or £2.95 a week.
ncreased tyre mileage So far as running costs are concerned lere should be little effect on fuel and ibricants although the air suspension could icrease tyre mileage. This has been estilated at an extra five per cent, reducing the tyre factor in the running cost by that margin.
Maintenance should be little affected because although the air bags have to be replaced from time to time, they can last quite a long time and the cost could be very small in relation to the mileage run. The only extra inspection is in relation to the pipes which have to be checked.
Depreciation will, of course, be affected. The extra cost already calculated is £1475 and at 200 miles a week (or 9,000 miles a year based on a 45-week year and over a 10-year life) the extra cost per mile will be £1475 divided by 90,000, or 0.016p.
Putting all this in table form then should produce the following comparison based on CM Tables of Operating Costs figures. The total operating cost per mile then becomes the standing cost per week divided by 200, which is 24.20p plus the running cost of 6.97p — a total operating cost per mile of 31.17p. This is an increase of 1.37p per mile on the figure shown in the Tables of Operating Costs.
There are other factors to be taken into consideration. There will be a loss of payload averaging about lOcwt but the swopbody will help to reduce time off the road if the vehicle is involved in an accident with consequent bodywork damage. The improved ride obtainable with the air suspension provided on this model could reduce damage in transit, especially to freight which is particularly susceptible to breakage in this way.
Only marginally more expensive tck run, £2.74 a week where the operator runs his vehicle for 200 miles a week, it might be held that the compensations more than outweigh the extra cost and somewhtit reduced payload.