UNSURPASSED RELIABILITY AND BACK-UP SEE GOLDSTAR METAL TRADERS MARK 10 YEARS WITH A SCANIA XT
15th June 2021
Specialist scrap-metal business, Goldstar Metal Traders continues to put its trust in the Swedish marque and dealer TruckEast with its latest additions including a 10th anniversary Scania XT hook-loader.
Wrapped in a stunning black livery, which contrasts the rest of the fleet, the anniversary Scania R 500 6x2 XT hook-loader is joined by a secondary hook-loader in their usual eye-catching livery. The milestone truck matches their typical high specification with a few extra finishing touches including air horns, Kelsa light bars, and a private registration mark.
Supplied by Harley Coulson, Sales and Operations Director at TruckEast both 44-tonners are powered by a Scania 13-litre 500hp engine delivering 2,550 Nm torque and are equipped with a Harsh hook-loader body complete with drawbar coupling and tipping gear. Opting for a tag axle, the units offer great maneuverability for the driver when getting in and out of busy yards.
Originally moving to the Scania product in 2016, the March-based operator cites Scania delivering a new bar in reliability and back-up as key to their continued custom. “We are not hauliers, the trucks are there to support our operation, one that we have to keep moving. It’s simple, our vehicles cannot be off the road, so it’s imperative we have a reliable product and for us, the Scania is exactly that. During our five years of operating Scania trucks, that has been proven time and time again,” explains Goldstar Metal Traders Operations Director, Andy Willy.
The fleet at Goldstar works in an arduous environment five-six days a week, and with the two new roll-ons averaging around eight jobs a day, downtime isn’t something they consider. The new trucks are on a three-year repair and maintenance contract which will be carried out by TruckEast Kings Lynn who supports local operators with out-of-hours servicing.
“We can maximise the truck’s productivity thanks to the service we receive. The team at Kings Lynn, who are our main service branch, do everything overnight. The driver can drop the truck off at the end of the shift and it’s ready to roll again the next day.”
“We can’t fault them, it’s the best experience we’ve had. Even if there’s a problem it’s essentially resolved before we know about it as solutions are always offered during updates,“ he continues.
Averaging 100,000kms per year across East Anglia each truck is equipped with a sleeper cab, but not because the work involves regular nights away. The choice to opt for larger cabs is to give their drivers a more spacious environment.
“We could easily use a day cab for the operation of these hook-loaders, but we want to give our drivers that extra comfort. One of the first Scania hook-loaders we had I was actually driving myself, and when you’re out in the trucks you realise what you need in them – both to do the job and also for a good environment. From then on we knew the specification we wanted,” Andy comments.
In its tenth year of trading, the firm has come a long way since 2011 with just one truck and yard in March, to now being one of the fastest growing scrap metal recyclers in the UK. Over the last decade, they’ve built new offices, expanded yards, added a new site near Downham Market, and most recently Kings Lynn docks. Goldstar Metal Traders will be celebrating their 10th anniversary at TruckFest Peterborough this summer, with a display showcasing a ten-vehicle line-up.
