Massive New Godfrey Davis Truck Centre
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6 acre site in North London
A RECENT OBSERVATION BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTE OF ROAD TRANSPORT ENGINEERS
Present-day conditions leave no room for the "amateur" in the field of commercial vehicle operations. The road transport operator is becoming ever more professional in his attitude toward his vehicles and their requirements. He is, therefore, entitled to expect the same degree of professionalism in the dealer who supplies and often services his trucks and vans. Every working hour that any vehicle is not available has to be eliminated.
He will demand from the truck specialist dealer a truly comprehensive transport engineering service. This will commence with the ability to advise upon and supply the best vehicle, and will continue for those who wish to use retail services with the provision of inspection, maintenance and repair service. In the case of fleets with their own workshop facilities this service must compare favourably with the time and cost of their own workshop operation.
A dealer who can combine this with reliable delivery, dependable recovery service and replacement vehicles on short or long term rental can truly claim to give "service" to the road transport industry. The team consists of the Salesman, the Service Manager and the Parts Manager. R. H..DUNCALFE R. Tech Eng., MI RTE Apart from obvious features of architecture and geographical location, Ford dealerships throughout the country tend to have certain similarities. This sharing of image is certainly increased by the current Ford dealer identification programme and the Ford Main Dealership at Ealing Road, Alperton, Middlesex, offers very little of exceptional appearance to the casual passer-by. A useful forecourt, a new car showroom and a display of used cars.
But it is the activity in the sizeable 6-acre site behind this benign facade that is currently of vital interest to heavy commercial vehicle and van operators.
Next Monday marks the official opening of the first stage of a development programme which is being carried out by Godfrey Davis (Wembley) Ltd., Ford main dealers and truck specialists, to prove to commercial vehicle operators that in the field of truck sales and maintenance the term ''Service" has a very significant meaning. The dealership is ideally situated in the light industrial area close to the junction of the A40 with the A406 at Hanger Lane.
Drivers travelling west along the North Circular Road or east along Western Avenue need drive no more than half a mile from the Hanger Lane intersection to find this truck centre which must be almost unique, not only for its size, but also for the fact that geographically it is located less than seven miles from London's Marble Arch. Godfrey Davis acquired the site from Dagenham Motors in May 1971 after several years of searching for a suitable site capable of housing the modern truck complex that the company have planned to be worthy of their present status as Britain's largest Ford Truck Specialist dealership.
The focal point of the truck operation is the newly built commercial vehicle service department. It has been designed and built specifically to fulfil the need for specialist facilities for truck operators.
In addition to housing the administrative section with a smart but functional reception area and cost and control offices, it provides a custom-built truck workshop which, with a floor area of 16,000 square feet, is believed to be the largest covered workshop to be found at any Ford Truck Specialist dealership in the country. Each of the 30 productive bays has its own roller shutter door (thus reducing to an absolute minimum the movement of vehicles inside the building) and a direct radio link with both the control office and the parts counter, to increase efficiency and ensure a speedy turn round of vehicle's.
Alongside the workshop building is an open truck parking area which provides parking facilities which must be difficult to match anywhere. The truck park covers 3+ acres which are completely surfaced with concrete hardstanding and which are entirely devoted to the truck service operation and new commercial vehicle storage.
General Truck Service Manager Nigel Peters says: "We provide a complete service for any size of truck operator. This does not mean that we run his business for him, but it certainly starts with helping him to buy the right vehicle, with careful attention to such details as correct axle loading, specialist equipment and bodies. But whether the operator has bought his vehicle from us or not, we are dedicated to a policy of helping him to run it at the most economic cost. This has meant planning our workshop operation to reduce 'down time' to the minimum and providing preventive maintenance facilities which are geared to D of E test requirements. We are deeply conscious of the need to offer service contracts df a standard that will be acceptable to H.G.V. licensing authorities".
Recognising the fact that an up-to-date, spacious and specially equipped service and repair operation is essential to satisfy the needs of commercial vehicle operators, Godfrey Davis are also aware that a comprehensive and fully integrated truck specialist dealership must also provide sales facilities that are considerably in advance of the normally accepted standards of vehicle salesmanship.
In order to support this philosophy, Godfrey Davis have built up what is possibly the largest commercial vehicle sales force in the United Kingdom. And it is not merely weight of numbers that they consider important. All of the Godfrey Davis truck sales executive have either passed or are undergoing the Ford truck consultant programme. Every one of them is fully conversant with all aspects of truck operation including special bodies and ancillary equipment. Also included in the Godfrey Davis sales team is a specialist in all types of tippers and another specialist in articulated vehicles. A sizeable stock of new vehicles is, of course, essential to support the activities of such a strong sales force, and Godfrey Davis always carry a large range of new chassis and a selection of built-up vehicles such as six-wheeler tippers, bucket loaders and box vans.
Meanwhile further stages are proceeding in the Godfrey Davis plan to develop North London's Truck Centre, Builders are already at work at the north-western end of the site on the early stages of erection of a completely new Truck accident repair facility and paint shop. Once again, being conscious of the rarity of such installations in city areas, Godfrey Davis are setting their sights high and aiming to produce a facility which will cater fully for the truck operator's needs. The accident repair shop, which will be operational by October of this year, will incorporate eight self-contained paint booths complete with hot air circulation and extraction. Each booth will be 40 feet long and 20 feet wide and the finished shop will cover an area of 16,000 square feet.