Supplied by Sparks Commercial Services, eight 13 litre C440 8x4s with Boweld steel tipping bodies are joining the 32-strong mixed fleet on muckaway jobs, working along the M27 corridor as well as Inert Recycling's core landfill restoration work, golf course remodelling and a long-term project in West Sussex.
Bob Steele, Transport Manager at Inert Recycling said: "I used to be an engineer in main dealer workshops and drove and repaired most manufacturer's trucks. Having seen it all, it takes a lot to impress me these days! We were experiencing poor customer service and availability problems from competitors so Rob Coxon, the salesman at Sparks Commercial Services knocked on the door at the right time to persuade me to take another look at Renault Trucks."
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He continued: "Rob arranged for a C440 tipper demo to come across to Portsmouth and after getting behind the wheel, I have to say I am embarrassed by how impressed I was. The cab and driving space as a working environment are streets ahead of what I had sat in before. In my opinion it's got the best gearshift on a rigid by far and has more than enough power for our needs."
Inert Recycling specialises in muck away services and takes on tough jobs that require a higher demand and get the job done in shorter time frames. The new tippers will be out on the road 10 hours a day and need to be robust and reliable. "We pride ourselves on our up-to-date modern fleet and we own our own tipping sites. We work our trucks extremely hard to get the job done for our customers and will break the trucks if they are breakable! We find out if a truck can't cope with the demands pretty quickly but the Renault Trucks are definitely holding their own," said Bob.
The C440s feature the Optidriver ATO 2612F gearbox with automatic clutch, 12 forward and 3 reverse gears providing a maximum torque of 2550Nm. Working on tough jobs requires a robust vehicle, so they are fitted with a steel bumper for maximum ground clearance to the chassis.
For driver comfort, the new vehicles are decked out with extras including 4-point cab air suspension with ride height control system, luxury heated and ventilated driver's seat, multimedia screen and 'ultimate' leather steering wheel.
Bob Steele concluded: "Introducing a new manufacturer into a fleet can be a challenge but they've fitted in seamlessly; they are tough work horses, and the drivers love them. Sparks Commercial Services is performing well and providing significantly better service that the others. I'm glad I got in that demo."
