THE first of Liebherr’s new articulated dump trucks to arrive in Scotland have gone into service, with long-term customer Edward MacKay hailing the machine.
MD of the firm, Eddie Mackay, said, “I’ve not had the chance to drive the new truck but just looking at it, they have designed one of the best-looking and well-engineered trucks on the market.”
Dean Ross, plant and transport manager at Edward Mackay, also gives the vehicles the thumbs-up. He said, “There are going to be little niggles as there always is with new kit but the design of the TA 230 seems to give us what we require in terms of build quality. It also gives the operators what they need in a comfortable and easy-to-use truck.”
The four TA 230s were given a tough baptism near Lochgilphead in Argyll where the contractor is involved in a project to upgrade overhead power lines. The haul along forest tracks is a 30-minute round trip.
Eddie Mackay continued, “We are probably at the furthest point of the haul at the moment. It will be a good test of the new trucks to see how they cope with long, laden journeys. The ground underfoot is good so that shouldn’t be an issue, but it will be a test for the operators.”
Edward Mackay was appointed to build access roads through the forests to allow contractors access to build a line of new pylons. On completion of the initial phase of construction, the Liebherrs joined several other trucks to haul material from the roads back to the borrow pit where a Liebherr R 956 stockpiles the incoming material.
All four trucks came with tailgates for the 18.1m3 bodies, allowing them to haul loose material without concerns about losing too much material on steep climbs. The exhaust-heated body is standard, as is an auto greasing system. A full array of LED lights illuminates front, sides and rear and ‘delayed access’ lighting gives the operator safe entry and exit during darker months.
