CVW hitched a ride with Schaeffler’s Graham Andrew and Tony Yates when the pair visited customer Woods Fleet Support, to talk to Woods’ Workshop Manager, Josh Burgess.
Woods Fleet Support is an HGV service and repair specialist plus 24-hour recovery operator based in Tarleton near Preston. It’s been in business for more than ten years servicing multi-marque vehicles, both heavy and light commercial. In Josh Burgess, the company has a man who knows what works for them and ultimately keeps customers happy.
For example, when asked what the deciding factors were when choosing a preferred clutch brand to install in HGV or off highway vehicles, Josh was emphatic: “Quality. It must be an OE part, although naturally, price is always important, but we just won’t fit the cheap stuff. However, we have a great relationship with our local motor factor, whom we trust to supply what we need. And even if we speak to a member of the team that doesn’t yet know us, they can see from their ordering system that we will only accept and fit an OE quality replacement, such as LuK.”
No budget for the job
Expanding on the question of quality, when asked directly if they’d ever fitted a budget clutch and, if so, whether they had experienced any problems, Josh was equally forthright: “No, we would never fit a budget clutch as we know the vehicle will come back, and when it does it’s then what it’ll cost us in terms of the replacement clutch and the time to redo the job. That could take six to eight hours to complete and have the knock-on effect of taking unnecessary space in the workshop, making it unavailable to do other jobs. On top of that, there’s the extra downtime the vehicle will experience and the penalty clauses on the contract, but worst of all, the damage to our reputation. So, it’s simply not worth it!
“However, I have seen them fitted and I know that there can be problems with the springs in the friction plate failing or rattling, as well as faults with the release bearings. In contrast, fitting an OE clutch gives us great confidence as we know it’ll fit right and won’t come back, unless it’s abused by the driver, of course.”
Turning to technological development, and the growing number of trucks utilising automatic transmissions, Josh was asked whether manufacturers were providing enough technical training or if they could they do more? “Although some could do more, the main thing is to have the right technical manuals and diagnostic tools and, if you look after multiple brands like we do, you need several different tools. However, to do the job properly, they also need to be kept up-to-date software-wise.”
Changing product groups and putting the focus on wheel hubs and bearings, Josh was asked whether he specified a brand when ordering wheel hub repair solutions for trucks or trailers, or just asked for OE quality: “Again, OE quality is a must, but FAG is one of our preferred brands, because in the same way that fitting LuK gives us confidence on the transmission side, FAG does the same when it comes to wheel bearings and hubs.”
The last workshop focused questions concerned the REPXPERT portal, as Josh was asked whether he was aware of it and used it and, if so, what was it mainly used for? “Yes, I use REPXPERT. We naturally enter all our points from our parts purchases on it, but I sometimes also make use of the technical bulletins and fitting instructions. I also get the REPXPERT emails and newsletters, which are equally useful.”
Finally, with a view towards the future, Josh of Woods Fleet Support was asked for his opinion on the introduction of electric powered HGVs: “Unless they’re self-charging, I don’t think they’ll work. If you consider the cost and range you get out of diesel, compared to how long you need to charge them and then the range you get out of electric, I can’t see it working. Yes, they don’t give out emissions, but you’ve also got to remember that emissions have be produced somewhere to generate the electricity to charge them!”
