90 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au
has been with more traditional f leets.
Logistics and operations manager Wes Smith, who looks
after TCC, has an app on his iPhone for the telematics and
reports to the Laws on fuel economy and how the truck is
being handled.
As Lance Law was checking with Smith on the distance
travelled, it became apparent that some hard driving had
been undertaken, with gears being used manually when,
ideally, it should have been under cruise control.
They are relishing having such information at their
fingertips, not least when it comes to advising drivers on
conservative driving.
ICC has taken on advice it sought from regional neighbour
Blenners Transport and will ask Volvo Commercial Vehicles
(VCV) to limit foot-throttle operating speed to 95km and
cruise control more than that, to save fuel and encourage
more cruise control use.
The brothers are interested to see if the 0.1–0.2 per litre per
km saving can come their way with such a strategy.
“It doesn’t take much to add up,” John says.
On the back-up services available from VCV’s Townsville
branch, there has been little call for it, bar the 20,000km
service and a minor issue with the air-conditioner fan that
was quickly fixed.VCV Townsville
At the Quon’s handover, VCV Townsville branch manager Ross
Gordon told us he was looking forward to showing the Laws
what back-up his organisation would be able to provide.
At that stage, driver trainer Pat Ryan was not in the picture
but Gordon counts him as a valuable impetus to the Laws’
understanding the greater insight telematics gives them and
the possibilities they might gain from a better understanding
of its attributes.
“We’ve been working with them to improve fuel economy,”
he tells Owner//Driver.
“We’ve seen some good gains there and they’re quite happy
with that.”Above: ICC MD Lance Law won the
use of the UD Quon for a year
Below: After half a year with TCC,
the Quon is transferring to sister
company ICC to tackle services
related to a long-term customer,
electricity company Ergon Energy
Opposite top & below: The Quon,
boasting good manoeuvrability in
tight areas, has been used for both
long and short haul work;
The low down (from left): Lance
Law, UD Trucks sales manager
Rex Ross, John Law and UD Trucks
area sales representative Tony
Le-Galloudec
“It’s been doing everything a truck can
do, from single trailers to B-doubles.”
Gordon puts it down to the combination of driver training
and telematics giving them a clearer idea of what’s happening
with the truck and how it was being handled.
“From what we’ve heard from them, they’re quite happy
with the truck,” he says.
“They are looking to purchase the truck at the end of the
demonstration program, so that’s a good indication.”
Gordon feels that much of value proposition for the likes of
UD can sometimes be hidden by the hardware’s image.
“I think the brand doing something like this is a fantastic
opportunity for someone who’s not been involved with it
before to get an insight into what we can offer,” he says.
He nominates information on what the truck’s capabilities
are, how best to use the telematics system and how to use the
features of the truck to get the best out of the vehicle as the
most important training attributes.Getting to know you
VCV’s handover and delivery manager for UD is Pat Ryan. For
the purposes of the year-long exercise, Ryan was on hand
when the Laws took full custody of the Quon, to give them a
run-down of its attributes.
He has been with the Laws’ companies twice and, when
Owner//Driver called, had one more appointment, in July,
before the end of the year.
The second time around, in May, included bringing then-
new Townsville manager Wes Smith up to speed on the full
capabilities of the vehicle.
“I help people understand their trucks better, I deal a lot
with the bigger f leets to help them get the most out of their
trucks – if they’ve got any issues or question,” Ryan says of his
general role.