ATN #418

If you buy a quality product, you don’t spend
as much on repair and maintenance
at most body manufacturers, they will
build a body to last eight years, but in our
environment, eight years won’t cut it,”
Wright said.
“If you buy a quality product, you don’t
spend as much on repair and maintenance,
you save on refrigeration running costs
and, if you use the same body over two
trucks compared to an entry-level body,
whole of life, those bodies are actually
cheaper.”
By Wright’s calculations, the difference
in running cost between high and low
performing bodies is significant, especially
when extrapolated over the entire fleet.
And while ‘outback spec’ might be
something trailers are more accustomed
to, Wright noted Furina has brought it into
rigid bodies.
He is in no doubt that the bodies need
the more rugged and protected option in
remote areas, changing front wall design
and looking to combat the weight of
impact of the refrigeration unit mounted
high on the front wall on rough roads.
He noted PFD would normally order up to
50 replacement or additional fleet vehicles a
year, though in the past it could be as many
as 80.
COMPETITION
But just as clear is that market leadership
is also a target on the back for challengers
looking for the slightest flaw or weakness,
perceived or otherwise, to exploit, often
while imitating the strengths.
And Hino has recently made no secret
that it will push Isuzu as hard as it possibly
can, wherever it can, but especially at the
lighter end of the market, following the
launch of the new 300 Series last year,
and the 500 Series Standard Cab the
year before.
The pressure of leadership also
comes through what customers
know and, IT developments being what
they are, no big and successful fleet
operator has a loose hold on the details
of how each of its vehicles is performing.
Placed where Isuzu lacks cover or where
PFD wants to test waters, PFD presently has
three Hino 300 Series vehicles in Tasmania
and two 500 Series Standard Cab trucks
elsewhere that have been on the road for the
past 12 months.
Wright has been behind the wheel of the
Hinos and, asked to define the difference,
he pointed to their provenance and cites
the class-leading safety and fuel efficiency
as benefits.
He noted the Isuzu feels solidly planted
on the road, “surefooted” and “truck-like”,
while the Hino borrows the feel that its
linkage with Toyota allows, making it “a lot
more car-like to drive” while sporting other
related touches and design cues, including
for the steering wheel and dash layout.
While truck purists, especially in
regards to heavy-duty vehicles, find the
term “car-like” tedious and annoying, the
fact is that PFD is not alone in finding
skilled drivers hard to come by, making
the car-licenced light-duty Hinos of
particular appeal.
PFD is having to nurture and develop
on-road staff that have had less exposure
to the dynamics and demands of driving
trucks than ever before.
FULLYLOADED.COM.AU July 2021 ATN 47