"They are cheap and they are available now, and for that reason alone I would definitely consider buying one," was the comments I got from one major Midlands-based tipper operator who pleaded with me to remain anonymous. "I am just about to place an order for some Dafs, but I could easily be swayed towards Hino as I'm hearing a lot of positive things" he says.
The "cheap and available" comments were heard time and time again, and were without doubt considered to be the brand's most redeeming features. Others liked the fact that although they are assembled in Ireland by Harris Assemblers, the company itself is part of Toyota.
But comments certainly weren't all positive. John Verrall of Horsham-based Penfold Verrall wasn't happy with the company's decision to offer EGR engines.
"As far as I'm concerned this is the wrong choice," he says. "This technology goes against what engine manufacturers have been doing for the last 20 years and I'm convinced there will be a serious fuel economy penalty." He is also highly critical of the lack of a two-pedal transmission. "We've been using auto tippers on muck-away for six years now, and wouldn't buy anything else.
"However, I can appreciate that they will appeal to people who buy solely on price and don't care about auto boxes."
Steve Dudman of the Dudman Group, who runs a mixed Volvo, Mercedes and Daf fleet, had similar concerns with the Hino's manual gearbox. He took his first Volvo with I-Shift in 2003, and says "I haven't looked back since".
"They already use ZF transmissions, so why not offer the automatic version? I certainly wouldn't buy one until they do" he says.
Walking around the eight-legger at the Show, Dudman also spotted a number of other features that he thinks Hino needs to address before UK tipper operators will take its trucks seriously. "Look at this," he says, pointing at the indicator on the door, "it's going to get knocked-off straight away." He wasn't impressed with the one-piece bumper either, which "will be costly to repair". He thinks the Hino should have a three-part bumper - which would allow operators to replace damaged sections instead of the whole thing.
Everyone I spoke to described the vehicle as "basic" - but them most followed that with something along the lines of "but that's not necessarily a bad thing".
OK, so the Hino isn't perfect yet, but it's certainly getting there. What's more, you can bet your life that Toyota will listen to these comments, and unlike some rival European manufacturers, act upon them. I wouldn't be at all surprised if CV Show 2008 sees the launch of an eight-legger with two-pedal transmission and three-part bumper.