USED RENAULT TRUCK TAKES AWAY RISK FOR GIBSON HAULAGE

Specialist livestock haulier, W Gibson (Haulage) Ltd. of Garstang, Lancashire has put its first used Range T460 6x2 into operation, citing first-class customer service and an excellent deal as its key motivations. Supplied by JDS Trucks and Vans and operating from the North West, the used vehicle joins the nine-strong Gibson fleet working principally on pig transportation for its UK-wide livestock haulage operation.

The straight-talking, no-nonsense approach of JDS’s Used Sales Director, Julian Smith, proved a key factor in Renault Trucks getting a foot back in the door with the company for the first time since 2001.

As W Gibson (Haulage)’s Director, David Gibson, explains: “We’ve known Julian for many years, he’s straight to the point and that’s exactly what we like. When Julian contacted us and asked if we would like to try a Range T we thought, this is a guy we can trust, so why not give it a go?”

After evaluating the vehicle on a week’s trial, Gibson was hooked. “We go into a lot of tight farmyards and we concluded that the Range T was a great fit for this type of operation. The driver said the manoeuvrability was excellent and the visibility superb,” he adds.

For Gibson, the stand-out feature was the Range T’s Optidriver automated gearbox, which selects the right gear at the right time depending on driving style and speed. “We were blown away by the gearbox, it’s fantastic, and I’d even go as far as to say that it’s one of the industry-leading automatic gearboxes on the market,” he enthuses.

The used T460 is packed with additional extras including heated air-suspended driver’s seat, 24L ‘quiet’ fridge, leather steering wheel with cruise and telephone control and Gibson has found it to be a great all-rounder as well as a big hit with the driver:

“It’s nice to drive, it’s comfortable and has a big cab - the Range T is a great workhorse and that’s precisely what small businesses like us want,” he explains.

Supplied on a two-year contract hire deal including service, repair and maintenance, which takes away all the risk, as David Gibson notes: “It’s a great truck that was immediately available on a great short-term deal. The back-up and support at JDS has been excellent and everybody worked together so well to get the right truck for our needs. We are really happy, the Range T is solid and proving its worth and Renault Trucks will be on our radar for any future vehicle requirements.”