Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/330408
June 2014 | Construction Equipment Distribution | ZZZFHGPDJFRP| 51 A Closer Look Fuel Savings Impress Customers Abell has found the product to be equally impressive. "There is great customer acceptance once you get it on the job," said Abell. "The people we have running them love the trucks. And they are raving about the fuel savings." Abell reports that some customers are saving as much as 10-15 percent on fuel costs. "When you can save that much, it's a huge number." Several factors contribute to the fuel economy of Bell's trucks including a weight that is lighter than its competi- tors when unloaded. According to O'Donnell, Bell Trucks offers the highest horsepower-to-weight ratio in the industry. Mercedes Benz engines and Allison transmissions provide the power. Pricing is also very competitive. "The 50-ton Bell truck (B50D) is competitively priced with the competition's 40-ton trucks," said O'Donnell. Due to a shortage of trucks in the Orlando, Fla., area, Abell has found it fairly easy to get Bell Trucks rented and on the job. Most units start out on a rental. "It may not have been the truck they would have chosen first, but once we get it in their hands, they love it. It's giving us easy access to the market," The Largest Range of Articulated Haulers The trucks come in a wide range of models to meet the needs of site prep contractors, landfill operations, highway contractors and mining applications. The company intro- duced the 30-ton truck (B30E) at AED's annual meeting in January and displayed the B30E and a B50D at ConExpo- CON/AGG. Other models include the B25E, B35D and the B40D. For special applications, Bell offers ejector trucks, container trucks and water trucks. According to O'Donnell, the Bell design delivers production-boosting payloads, lower daily operating costs, superior ride quality and uncompromised safety stan- dards. "The end result is a truck that moves more material at a lower cost-per-ton for maximum productivity and profitability." For improved safety and productivity the E-series has an automatically engaged Inter-axle Differential Lock (IDL) that gives the vehicle full automatic traction control. A sensor on the inter-axle differential identifies when an axle loses trac- tion and automatically engages the IDL function while the vehicle is still moving. "This feature is working so well that the diff lock button on the Sealed Switch Module (SSM) may soon become redundant," said O'Donnell. In addition, the B30E and B25E ADTs both have limited slip differentials in each axle so the cross locking of wheels is achieved automatically without any interaction from the operator. Other features such as keyless ignition, HillAssist, Bin Tip Prevention, Auto Park Application (APA), Turbo Spin Protec- tion and On-Board Weighing (OBW) are standard on the E-series. The onboard weighing system has been improved with an added load cell to compensate for different load- ing styles. According to O'Donnell, the E-Series trucks were completely redesigned from the ground up. Some of the improvements on the E-series models include increased stability, cab comfort, and a whole new level of informa- tion provided to the operator. "You don't really need any computers for servicing it," said O'Donnell. "You can diagnose service issues through the cab display." This makes diagnostics quicker and easier for technicians. Abell finds that customers also like the fact that Bell trucks currently meet Tier-4 interim requirements with- out relying on engine regeneration. Diesel exhaust fluid (AdBlue) is injected into the flow of the exhaust gases and urea reacts with the NOx gasses in the catalytic converter to form harmless nitrogen and water. Looking for Dealers Bell Trucks America has signed 12 dealers with over 30 locations in the U.S. and is in discussion with more dealers. They hope to have 20 dealers in their network by year-end. The company believes their truck is a good fit for dealers selling Hyundai, Kobelco, Case and LBX excavators. "The dealers understand trucks are a great rental tool and assist with their excavator market," said O'Donnell. "Strong reliable machines, strong reliable support has been our focus," he added. "Nothing moves material from Point A to Point B at a lower cost per ton than articulated haulers in these rough conditions." Abell has also found Bell Trucks America to be a strong marketing partner. "There is really a lot of support and help on the marketing. It makes it easier to get in the door." Co-op advertising, participation in open houses, sales call support, and customer visits are just a few of the methods Bell Trucks is using to grow their market share. O'Donnell understands that Bell Trucks' success back in the U.S. is dependent not only on the brand's history, but what happens in the field today. Demonstrations will play a key role in establishing the reputation of Bell Trucks and getting a foothold in the market. Dealers interested in learning about distribution oppor- tunities should call or e-mail Kevin O'Donnell at 855-235- 5238, kevin@belltrucksamerica.com. %HOO7UXFNV6SHFLÀFDWLRQV Model Gross HP Rated Payload (Pounds) B25E Articulated Truck 282 52,910 B30E Articulated Truck 322 61,729 B35D Articulated Truck 396 HP 71,650 B40D Articulated Truck 449 HP 81,571 B50D Articulated Truck 510 HP 100,090