Keeping the economy on the move with hi-tech trucks

With this State's unique reliance on road transport for getting goods moved, the truck plays an extremely important part in ensuring the economy remains buoyant. While many people may still look upon the truck as dirty, smelly juggernauts, the modern heavy goods vehicle is far removed from the stereotype. Indeed, the high levels of technology currently employed in the new trucks is more advanced than most passenger cars.

Electronics, for instance, play a huge role in the truck of today, with many now featuring electronic control of the engine, brakes and transmission. ABS is a legal requirement of all new trucks and traction control is now becoming extremely common. The modern long-haul cab is now a very comfortable environment with air suspended seat, air conditioning, microwave and stereo systems which would put your living room hi-fi to shame.

As with the passenger car industry, the product life cycle of trucks is reducing in time and the manufacturers are constantly working on renewing their vehicles to keep up with the competition. As you'd expect, 1997 is no exception and this year has seen notable additions from Renault, DAF and Isuzu. Renault has launched two new models this year. A new rigid construction vehicle range, the Kerax, and a comprehensive revision of its Magnum tractor unit. The Kerax is available as a three- or fouraxled rigid chassis and power comes from a choice of 9.8 or 11.1-litre engines offering 260, 300, 340 and 385hp. The Magnum now features a new engine, new electronically controlled brakes and a thoroughly revised cab interior. The only thing left unaltered is the cab structure itself. Dutch truck builder DAF, which was taken over by US truck giant Paccar in 1996, launched the 95XF truck range at the beginning of 1997 replacing its 95 Series tractor unit. Like the Renault Magnum, the cab interior was revised, offering even more comfort for the driver, while under the cab sits a brand new 12.6-litre engine available at 380, 430 and 480hp. While both DAF and Renault's new models are at the heavy end of the market, Isuzu's newcomer is a lightweight 3.5 tonne gross vehicle weight distribution vehicle. The new Isuzu NPR69 3.5 and NKR69 3.5 are both compact vehicles ideally suited to city deliveries, visibility from behind the steering wheel is excellent and access into the cab is superb. Power comes from a small four-cylinder 3.9-litre engine offering 135hp.

With rising concern for the environment, engine manufacturers are under constant pressure to limit exhaust emissions from their engines, while still offering improved performance and economy. Heavy duty diesel engines are no exception and in 2001 a new round of legislation comes into force decreasing further the amount of nitrous oxides and particulates in the exhaust gas - pretty soon the air will be cleaner coming out of the exhaust than it is going in at the air intake.

The manufacturers are, of course, already testing the engines to meet this legislation and, as we get closer to the turn of the century, there will be a flurry of activity with new engines and new products from nearly all the truck manufacturers. The early part of next year will see the arrival of new vehicles from both Mercedes-Benz and DAF. Back in 1995, Mercedes set about totally renewing its commercial vehicle line-up with the launch of the Sprinter van, followed in 1996 by the Actros tractor unit - voted International Truck of the Year for 1997 - and the Vito van. In February, the German truck builder will launch its new lightweight rigid truck range which it is calling the Atego. DAF, on the other hand, will introduce the new 12.6-litre engine as used on the 95XF into its lightweight tractor unit range the 85 Series where it will be offered in 340, 380 and 430hp form, while the 75 Series truck will get a new 9.2-litre engine offering 250, 290 and 320hp.

In the spring, Iveco will unveil a new high-tech electronically controlled engine for the popular EuroTech tractor unit range, while later in the year Volvo is expected to launch the long-awaited replacement for the FL range, featuring new cab - based on the FH tractor unit - and new engines. Mercedes will also complete its model renewal with the launch of a new medium weight truck range. 1999 will see the arrival of the all-new MAN tractor unit model. This radically restyled model range has a new brand new cab and engine range. The truck is likely to be a strong contender for the prestigious International Truck of the Year 2000.

The market for new trucks is fiercely competitive with ever increasing pressures to keep prices down. There is also increasing signs of a shift in the buying habits of truck operators with contract hire and long-term leasing arrangements preferred to owning the truck outright.

Indeed, truck manufacturers throughout Europe are predicting that, in time, trucks will never be sold to operators, instead remaining the property of the truck builder and then used on a pence-per-mile basis when the transporter wants the truck and is then given back at the end of the hour, day, week or whatever. In this new age of transport, the distribution company does not want all the headaches of owning, maintaining and servicing the truck which detracts from its core business, moving goods. For the time being, however, that scenario has still to reach fruition and people are still investing money in trucks. While the commercial vehicle sector - above 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight - hasn't benefitted from a scrappage scheme, it has nevertheless enjoyed a good year in terms of registrations and looks on course to top 4,000 registrations for 1997. That figure is approximately the same as in 1996, though is still significantly better than 1994 and 1995, according to SIMI figures. The market leaders are Iveco, Volvo and Scania. Iveco will take top spot with 15 per cent of the market. Its success is largely based around healthy sales at the light end of the market with its TurboDaily range of 3.5 tonne vans and Cargo range of lightweight rigid trucks. At the heavy end of the market - above 17t gvw - the two Swedish truck builders, Scania and Volvo, dominate the market with their 4 Series and FH ranges respectively. Notable market movers compared with last year are MAN, up 36 per cent, and Isuzu, up 70 per cent. MAN is being helped by the favourable exchange rate between the punt and the German mark, while Isuzu has recently launched a new model in its range which is proving a big seller.