Somerset Removals and Storage is a small family business based in Somerset in northern Tasmania.

Founder and owner Peter Farrow says, “We‘ve always offered a wide range of the traditional services you‘d expect from a transport removal and storage operation, but it‘s always been our reliability and going the extra mile for our customers that has set us apart.”

Part of that reliability Peter attributes to Fuso trucks. “We keep our Fuso trucks for approximately 10 years and during that time we‘ve never had any issues with them. The only money we ever spend on them is regular servicing,” he added.

Peter currently has three Fuso Fighter trucks in his fleet, with regular service runs into the rugged west coast, as well as down to Hobart and across to the east coast.

“We cover the entire state from here,” he said. “Our biggest growth in recent times has been in the online sales area. We now provide a deliver, installation and removal of the old product service.

“The growth in this area is increasing rapidly. We are seeing more and more people purchasing large white goods online. They are delivered here from the mainland and overseas and then we distribute them to their final locations.”

According to a recent UPS survey in the USA, shoppers now make 51% of their purchases on the web, compared with 48% in 2015 and 47% in 2014. Closer to home the National Australia Bank (NAB) reported that online spending was growing five times faster than traditional retail spending.

Peter agrees that the convenience of online shopping is attracting more people, especially when the supplier offers free shipping.

In terms of suitability for the job, Peter says the Fuso Fighters have been doing an admirable job. “The drivers like them too, which helps,” he added. “They‘re very comfortable to drive, with good visibility and there‘s plenty of room inside for all the things delivery drivers require.”

The Fusos‘ engines have been performing faultlessly, with the older Fuso already notching up over a million kilometres.

“The reliability and fuel economy we‘re getting from the Fighters is what we‘d expected,” Peter said. “With margins so tight these days you need your equipment to be reliable and economical and it‘s just a bonus when they are so comfortable to drive.”

 
Photos: The left-hand door glass in the trucks has real safety benefits.