It's not every driver that gets a say in his next new waggon. But at Milbank they clearly like to rely on the experience of the man behind the wheel (and why not? he's got to do the job!) Anyway, BLB is delighted to learn that, drawing upon his 14 years experience in machinery movements, Milbank driver Sean ‘Taff’ Price has specified this stunning new Volvo FH-520 I-shift drawbar unit with a 45 tonne-metre Fassi crane from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia.
Now click through here to see just how special it really is...and to read all about mythical Milbank Gods!
In line with Milbank’s habit of naming its trucks after mythical gods, ‘Demetrius’ rides on Alcoa rims all round, shod with 315-60R22.5 front and 295-60R22.5 tyres on the rear all helping to reduce overall ride height and centre of gravity. Taff has specced his waggon and drag around the customer requirement to move lathes and milling machines for Mills machines all over the UK and Ireland from their base at Leamington Spa.
In particular, he highlighted the need for a flexible delivery truck as many industrial units and machine shops are in locations that can best be described as 'out of the way'. “The easy bit is driving the truck. It’s the loading and installation that takes the time,” Taff tells BLB. Thus, sliding canopies have improved loading times, doing away with the need to rope and sheet the precision machinery carried within, while no less than fourteen steel lashing rings each on the truck and trailer also mean the machines are firmly secured in transit and lockers are fitted to both sides of the chassis for carrying straps, chains and slings required for the job.
And being a man with an eye for detail, Taff paid several visits to the trailer and body-builders to make sure they kept to his specifications and he's full of praise for everyone involved, including his boss, Milbank MD Dave Watson.
Nice story! That's what it's all about, getting the spec right first. As they say, you remember the performance long after you've forgotten the price. So if the truck performs as it should from day one, you're on to a winner from the word go. Congrats to all concerned.