"This vehicle will run on long distance general haulage work and will be away for three to four nights a week," comments the Company's Joint Managing Director, Ashley Bassett.  "We have an intensive and demanding schedule planned for it and, having reviewed the options available on the market, decided this was exactly the right truck for the job.

"Moreover, the driver we have allocated to this vehicle has been with us for more than 20 years.  He shares the pride that we take in our fleet and its total operation and we are very pleased that he will now be able to enjoy the benefits of the Topline cab."

R. G. Bassett's new vehicle is equipped with a 12-litre Scania DC12-01 unit injector engine which delivers 420hp (309kW) and 2,000Nm (1,475lbf.ft) torque.  The transmission is a Scania GRS900 12-speed plus two crawlers gearbox.

Founded in 1897, R. G. Bassett & Sons Limited is today a fifth generation family firm, run jointly by brothers Ashley and Leonard Bassett.  The Company hauls a wide range of products, including newsprint, adhesives, stainless steel and hazardous cargoes, for a number of blue chip clients.

Based at Tittensor, near Stone, the Company, which has recently achieved accreditation to ISO 9001:2000, also offers 60,000 square feet of warehousing space and operates its own driver training school under the name of Bassett Transport Training Limited.