In with the new - Hayton Courtyard’s smartly dressed MAN, a TGX 26.500BLS, impresses with its low total cost of ownership and high levels of driver comfort.
Peter Coulthard started the haulage company in 1916 naming his new business venture after his eldest son, Hayton. With a rather different and by today's standards odd choice of vehicle, this being a motorbike and sidecar, Peter's first road haulage venture was to deliver newspapers in and around Galloway. Peter then branched out purchasing his first small lorry and started collecting milk from the surrounding farms for a local dairy based in Kirkcudbright.
Upon coming of age Hayton decided that his interest fell outside the road haulage and transport arena and when leaving school he followed his passion and went into farming. Peter's brother Jimmy took over the business and throughout the 1940s he expanded the concern to include Dunmhor Transport, named after his two children, Duncan and Morag.
In 1959 Jimmy passed away and Duncan, just fourteen at the time, left school to help his mother run the business. Duncan eventually took over the business in 1967. In the 1970s and 1980s, under the management of Duncan Senior, the company continued to flourish and grow. Following the retirement of Duncan senior in 2000, Duncan junior becoming the new Managing Director, a position he holds today.
Today the business progressively adapts to ensure that the future requirements of their customers' needs are both met and delivered upon. Their mixed brand fleet is instantly recognisable, not only within the road haulage fraternity but as an iconic Scottish brand and when seen crossing the highways and byways their traditional red and tartan livery sets eyes ablaze.
As one of Scotland's oldest haulage companies Hayton Coulthard operate a large, modern fleet of trucks and trailers, all fitted with satellite tracking, with the option of curtainsiders, euroliners, refridgerated reefers, bulk walking floors and flatbed trailers. With depots located in Twynholm (Head Office) Ecclefechan , Cumbernauld and Lesmahagow, and additional operating centres at Bathgate, Auchenleck, Tebay, Auchterader, Hexham and Barrow-in-Furness overlooking the Irish Sea.
The Hayton Coulthard fleet recently witnessed a smart new fleet addition, a rather distinctive MAN TGX 6x2 26.500BLS, featuring the range topping XXL cab. Measurements dictate that this is the biggest cab, in terms of interior space, of any cab in Europe, so you can imagine what a delight this is for the lucky driver.
In terms of creature comforts this highly specified MAN offers the driver a true home from home working, living and sleeping environment. Fitted with the optional rear cab-wall mounted locker system, which incorporates a microwave, coffee maker, a fold down 15.6" LED television and oodles of storage space, we're looking at trucking luxury. Its worth mentioning that this locker system does do away with the second top bunk option, but for sheer driver comfort its worth it every day of the week. It also features a rather unique roll-up-fold-down rest hammock. Ingenious in its design and suspended under the locker system, the hammock rolls down to perfectly meet the shape of the driver allowing a relaxted and fully supported sitting and lounging position, a real boon after a long day on the road and perfectley positioned to make the most of the TV.
As with any top flight flagship tractor it's a fair climb up to get behind the wheel, but once you're seated comfortably you're met with a commanding view of the road ahead and the fit and finish is top class, easily on a par with anything else on the market. The two tone dash, in black and urban concreate, as we would know it light gray, is easy on the eye and it certainly adds a touch of class. All controls are logically laid out, easy to handle and the display is easy to see and navigate. The multifunction controls on the steering wheel, offering a range of control options, fall nicely to hand and are intuitive.
"We heard a lot of good things about the latest MAN products, so to help satisfy our interest and ensure we continue to operate an efficient fleet, we specified a vehicle that would meet both our todays and the futures needs," commented Duncan Coulthard.
Coulthard's smartly dressed MAN - TGX 26.500BLS - is powered by a Euro6 500hp (368 kW) 12.4 litre 6 cylinder, MAN D26 engine which delivers 2500 Nm and in the short time its been on the road (March 2019) it has proven too be well matched and perfectly in tune with the MAN Tipmatic® 12 speed automated Transmission.
"It's early days for sure but the indications are good and as the miles creep up we're already seeing the efficiencies that MAN promised. Telematics are suggesting that it's already, it terms of fuel consumption, better than our fleet average, this as you can understand if of huge importance."
Talking of creature comforts, Duncan Coulthard believes his drivers deserve a comfortable working and living environment, not only does this improve productivity but also retention and attraction.
Both seats in the TGX are leather trimmed, heated and cooled and feature lumbar and shoulder adjustment. Specified with the MAN Advanced DAB+ Media system there is a seven-inch colour display with integral whole of Europe navigation. And as we mentioned earlier with the additional rear cab-wall mounted locker system, this really is a truck that delivers.
"Driver feedback has been extremely positive and in terms of road presence we've had some positive comments from both our customers, friends and the wider road transport community.
Duncan concluded: "We're certainly impressed so far, and if the fuel continues to improve and the MAN dealer network continues to offer the high level of support we're seeing and the truck lives up to expectation I can't see a reason why more MAN trucks won't join the Coulthard fleet in the future."
Coulthard's new MAN TGX XXL tractor, as with all MAN vehicles, is supported by a nationwide Commercial Vehicle Dealer network, with many operating extended hours, including round-the-clock servicing. The entire MAN range benefits from MAN's Mobile24 24-hour breakdown service, which in the unlikely event of a breakdown, guarantees 24/7 emergency roadside assistance 365 days of the year.