RANGE T TAG AXLES ARE LOGS ON FAVOURITE WITH WD & A HALEY

The proven robustness and reliability of Renault trucks operating in arduous forestry conditions, together with the excellent levels of service support provided by local dealer Border Trucks Carlisle, has seen Dumfriesshire-based WD & A Haley add the first two Range T520 tag axles to its seven-strong fleet.

WD & A Haley’s business is booming and the new T520s have already been put to the test pulling 28-29 tonnes of logs from local forestry in the remote and challenging environment of Beattock summit to the north of Lockerbie in Scotland.

WD & A Haley owner, Antony Haley comments on the purchases: “Forestry work is tough, the landscape is awash with steep embankments and we needed something with plenty of grip and power. The T520s give us this by the ‘bucket-load’, coping skilfully with all types of terrain - they just keep going! The tag axle is good for tight corners too and, importantly, gives us the traction on the hills and on difficult land.”

No stranger to Renault Trucks, WD & A Haley has run Landers, Premiums and Kerax for several years. “We’ve been a loyal customer of Renault Trucks and Border Trucks for a long time and had heard great reports about the Range T. It’s just a brilliant truck for our fleet and a great, versatile lorry,” Antony adds.

“The deal on the table from Border Trucks was very competitive and there was a lot of truck on offer,” he explains. “I’ve been working with Stephen Whitehead and the team there for many years and as I can’t fault them or the lorry at all, I had no hesitation in buying the new Range Ts and I haven’t looked back since – in fact I’m looking to add more to the fleet.”

The top-spec T520s boast a powerful 13-litre engine providing a maximum torque of 2550Nm, Optidriver automated gearbox with gear-shifting optimised for fuel eco, Alcoa Dura-Bright aluminium wheels and hydraulic power steering. They also come with a 5-year repair and maintenance contract and are fitted to logging industry skeleton trailers with timber bolsters.

Driver comfort is a priority and so the trucks are packed with optional extras including heated, air-suspended seat with anti-perspiration ventilation and two driver’s arm rests. There’s also a 24L ‘quiet’ fridge, ultimate leather steering wheel with cruise and telephone control and electronically regulated comfort air conditioning with compressor optimisation. 

“Our drivers are ‘over the moon’ and the lorries literally make their day!  Everything is so well set up and within arm’s-reach and the comfort is second-to-none,” concludes Antony Haley. 

The Range Ts are equipped with a Bigfoot Tyre Deflation system which allows drivers to control the air pressure in each tyre from the driving seat, giving extra traction in challenging conditions and reducing damage to forestry roads.