Gretna Green-based forestry haulage specialist JTM Haulage Ltd has put its first new Range T520 High 6×2 rigid drawbar into its timber haulage operation.
Supplied by Border Trucks on a four-year R&M package, the new Range T520 High drawbar combination is equipped with skeleton trailer body and a straight boomed 10 tonne/meter KESLA 2110 crane, joining JTM’s five-strong fleet pulling timber from local forestry.
John Mason, JTM Haulage’s owner, said: “Working on timber haulage, moving bolster in and out of woods, is challenging. The terrain is difficult, exceptionally hilly and we are frequently negotiating forest roads that can be up to ten miles long. We needed a truck that’s robust, reliable and gives plenty of grip, power and manoeuvrability: the new T High copes skilfully with all types of terrain; it just keeps going!”
The addition of the new Range T High follows a positive experience with a used Renault Premium. “We bought a second-hand Premium Tag Axle primarily with the intention of it tiding us over a particularly busy period,” explained Mason. “We used this for a year and were really impressed with its reliability and running costs and, based on this experience, we turned to Renault Trucks when we needed a new vehicle.”
“Carrying bulky timber we wanted a drawbar for the extra payload and loadspace that it provides. Access is king with the types of jobs and places we go to, including estates and farms, and the drawbar gives us the manoeuvrability that we need.”
JTM was running a competitor truck with a big cab so needed something comparable to impress the driver. “The Range T High more than delivers, and the cab height and extra space we wanted for the driver is spot on,” said Mason.
The truck equipped Bragan top light bar, Alcoa Dura-Bright aluminium wheels, roof-mounted twin air horns, private number plate, laminated side windows and cab paint matched colour components.
Powered by Renault Trucks’ 13 litre DTi engine that produces 512hp and 2550Nm of torque, the Range T520 High comes with Optdriver AT 2612F automated gearbox, 12 forward and 3 reverse gears and steering wheel-mounted operating mode, all of which were instrumental in converting the driver to be an advocate of Renault Trucks. “Although our driver said he wasn’t bothered and he’d drive anything, I think it would be fair to say he was dubious at first but he was very quickly won over by the automated gearbox and seat position,” said Mason. “The gearbox is so much more responsive, it just makes the driver’s life so much easier.
“We are delighted with the Range T High. The fuel consumption has been very good; it’s still early days but we are already getting ½ mpg more than our other trucks and the Renault is achieving early 7s mpgs. The service from Border Trucks has been great too, we’ve had two inspections so far and updates were all sorted promptly. We won’t look elsewhere for any trucks in the future.”
