A Queensland subcontractor has added the latest Iveco ACCO 8×4 agitator to his fleet to service a contract with Boral, bringing the number of ACCOs in his stable to nine.
Having successfully owned and operated ACCO agitators of various configurations for almost 30 years, purchasing the latest model was an easy decision for Ross Books.
The new truck is the latest of six that have been purchased new over the last two years.
“There have been enormous improvements made to the ACCO over the years,” Mr. Brooks said.
“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.”
The 2015 ACCO features premium driveline componentry including an SCR powerplant rated at 340hp / 254kW and 1106 lb ft / 1500 Nm. The engine is coupled to a heavy duty Allison 6-speed automatic transmission while front and rear Hendrickson airbag suspension smooth out the bumps.
The load sharing, twin steer front axle and air suspension combination provides optimum weight distribution for the 7.6 cm³ Cesco bowl, allowing up to 11 tonnes over the front axles.
Another important feature of the new ACCO 8×4 agitator is a locally-developed electronic stability control (ESC). This safety device helps keeping all wheels firmly planted on the road in an emergency turning or swerve situation, and it is a great addition given the high centre of gravity nature of agitator work. ESC is complemented with ABS brakes and Automatic traction control.
“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,” said Mr. Brooks.
Mr. Brooks said that reliability was also a key consideration in his fleet purchases, particularly given that concrete is a time-sensitive product, with service being judged on timely delivery and on the concrete’s ‘slump’ performance. Slump is the measure of the consistency and workability of fresh concrete.
“Boral has positioned itself in the market as providing a high service level, the days of making 10 or more trips in a shift are largely gone,” he said.
“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. And it’s all about consistency, especially if you have a concrete pump on site doing a major pour, the concrete needs to be turning up at the right intervals.
“If timing is out, it’s more difficult to blend the concrete and you can get what’s referred to as a ‘cold joint’, which can cause cracks in the finished product. 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.”
Mr. Brooks appreciates the ACCO’s excellent low whole of life costing and Iveco’s strong aftersales support.
“The ACCOs provide great value for money and their resale value is also good, they’re a known product, they’re an industry standard.
“I also see benefits in running a uniform truck fleet. 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.”
Mr. Brooks said that, where possible, he liked buying Australian-made products such as the ACCO which is developed and manufactured in Australia, specifically for the local driving conditions and climate.