For Steven Fell, finding the right truck to run his Snap-On Tools franchise from isn’t as simple as test driving a few and taking his pick – he needs a setup to fit his unique access needs.
Steven is in a wheelchair and operates his truck using hand controls, so he needs a walkthrough cab and plenty of space up front.
This ruled out cab-over options, and left few options for Steven, who struggled to find the right truck to upgrade from his 1992 Benz 912.
At the Brisbane Truck Show in 2015, he came across a Western Star that both looked the part and offered the space he needed.
“I first saw the Western Star 2800 at the Brisbane Truck Show in 2015,” he said.
“As I am in a wheelchair, it is not practical for me to work in a cab‐over.
“Initially, I thought the model would be too big, but I’m glad I researched it more as it’s actually great for my needs and has ended up being the perfect truck.”
He took delivery of the truck a month ago, after sending it to Sydney to have his Snap-On showroom body built and fitted.
In addition to the custom body, hand controls were installed along with a remote controlled tailgate loader which he uses to get in and out of the truck.
Steven says getting in and out is a lot easier and as a result, he’s not in as much pain after a long day’s work.
“It’s just amazingly good. It is very good for my disability – in my previous truck, just transferring from the wheelchair to the driver’s seat was a circus, now I don’t experience anywhere near as much pain as I used to.
“All this makes it easier for me to use,” he said.
That new truck feeling hasn’t worn off for Steven, who’s stoked with how it’s turned out – a shopfront he’s proud of for his business.
“It is a smart looking truck out on the road.
“Driving the truck is an absolute pleasure – not just because of the excitement of having a new vehicle, I also have a huge reduction in pain.
“It’s a pleasure to be in the truck, to drive it and even just to look at it. It’s awesome,” he said.
The economy has also taken Steven by surprise, with the Cummins and Allison powertrain keeping fuel costs down.
“I work five days a week and I get a bit over a week’s fuel out of one tank,” he said.