New 8x4 agitator will handle Boral contracts for long-serving Iveco customer
Queensland subcontractor Ross Books now has nine Iveco Accos in his fleet after the truck maker delivered a new 8×4 agitator to cover a contract with Boral.
The new Acco continues a 30-year connection with the vehicle for Books, one that has ramped up in the last two years with six new purchases joining his roster.
“The latest trucks are as tough and reliable as the ACCO have ever been and they ride beautifully; they have air suspension, air suspended driver’s seat, air conditioning, electric mirrors and windows and Bluetooth – they’ve got all the creature comforts of a modern car – I think they’re a great truck,” Books says.
Books’ new Acco features an SCR engine with 254kW (340hp) of power and 1,500Nm of torque, controlled by an Allison 6-speed automatic transmission.
Hendrickson airbag suspension operates on both the front and rear axles, aiding the twin-steer front axle to cover 11 tonnes of the distributed 7.6 cm³ Cesco bowl weight.
The new range of 8×4 agitators also ship with locally-developed electronic stability control (ESC), a must for Books’ contract with Boral.
“Given Boral’s focus on safety, ESC is a condition of our contract with them – all vehicles ordered after January 1, 2015 to work with Boral must have ESC,” he says.
Another must for Books’ work is consistency.
“We carry a product that actually ages very quickly, the concrete should be out of the bowl within an hour and a half of batching,” he says.
“While delivery and timing calculations are handled via a centralised computer system at Boral’s head office, our control in the process is to operate reliable vehicles.”
Should the worst occur and a truck is off the road, Books says a uniform fleet has advantages for his employees.
“If a vehicle is getting serviced, the driver can jump in another truck and baring some slight differences in mixer controls, it’s a familiar environment for them.”