Samoa Electrical Power Corporation has received their first Bucket Truck—also known as a cherry picker—from New Zealand.

E.P.C. staff underwent training last Friday at Vaitele to enable them to use the equipment safely and effectively.

The Corporation’s chief engineer (distribution and utilisation), Tafu Salevao, ran the training for the staff. 

Speaking to Samoa Observer at the training site, he said it was the first time for the EPC to receive such a brand new truck, which was specifically designed in New Zealand.

“The second-hand truck we had was somewhat similar to this one, had stopped operating almost ten years ago. Since then we had to hire from other companies like Charlie Ah Liki, in order to do street lights and other maintenance. We really needed one of our own,” he said.

Mr Salevao worked with New Zealand-based company Intracor Commodity Exports Ltd to manufacture the truck which was built to cater for the corporation’s needs.

ICE Ltd marketing manager, Grant Sorensen, said: “It is a new Isuzu FTR50 truck with 14 meter 2 man insulated bucket that is specially designed and built. New features that are most effective with modern equipment are added to provide safer and easier overhead lines work in Samoa.”

In August, the same year Intracor also delivered a Flat deck Crane Truck that was ordered with the bucket truck. The Samoa Government spent nearly $500, 0000 tala on both the trucks. 

Kane Metcalfe and David Gloer from New Zealand Onehunga Transport Engineering Ltd facilitated the training for 20 trainees, to enable them to operate the truck and know its features. 

While each of the trainees got on the 14-meter bucket, Kane said it was good to see them excited. 

“The team is obviously experienced and they have shown a lot of interest. So it’s great to see a lot of people quite excited to about a new truck for their fleet. ”

He said he was also impressed with how serious the team is about safety as there are other teams—who also deliver trucks—that have a casual attitude to safety.