Tag: lorries|road transport|trailers

Maritime Transport, the UK’s leading provider of integrated road and rail solutions, has turned to Tiger Trailers for its latest order of curtainsiders, based on the manufacturer’s reputation for high quality products, efficiency, and a customer-focussed approach. Manufactured on time and in full at Tiger’s state-of-the-art facility, the new trailers have entered service throughout the UK.

Paul Heyhoe, Maritime Transport’s Fleet Director, comments: “We are pleased to have placed our first order with Tiger Trailers, who met our timescales and specification at a time where production schedules are being delayed across various industries. The new trailers are a welcome addition to our fleet and will bring greater efficiencies and flexibility to our distribution division, ensuring it is prepared for substantial growth we have seen in new contracts.”

Maritime Transport’s one hundred 13.6m Tiger curtainsiders incorporate various EN 12642 XL rated bodywork components, feature a clearspan pillarless roof design, and have been designed to meet the company’s exacting requirements through specified components including two rear strap pouches, a specific load securing setup, TIR cord, toolbox, and SAF drum brake axles. The majority are fitted with Keruing hardwood floors, while ten have phenolic non-slip plywood finishes.

Stephen Pollock, Tiger Trailers’ Business Development Director, says: “Here at Tiger we are extremely pleased to have welcomed Maritime Transport as a customer, following their decision to place this order for 100 curtainsiders with ourselves. It has been an absolute pleasure to have developed a close working relationship with Paul Heyhoe and his colleagues and we look forward to supporting them going forwards.”

Maritime’s trailer fleet includes curtainsiders of various apertures, some of which are fitted with tail-lifts to suit their varied duties, along with skeletals of both sliding and fixed types, tippers, gensets and goosenecks. They are pulled by over 1,600 tractor units comprising Scania’s, Volvo’s, and Mercedes, all meeting Euro-6 emissions standards and LEZ compliance. Maritime was awarded the accolade of Road Freight Company of the Year at the 2022 Multimodal Awards held in June. The company has been a proud recipient of the award on four occasions since the Road Freight category was launched in 2016.

Tiger Trailers is approaching its 10th year of business and has grown fast to become one of the UK’s leading articulated HGV trailer and rigid bodywork manufacturers, building the complete product range from curtainsiders and box vans to fixed-deck and moving-deck double decks, flatbeds, skeletals and other specialist trailers, plus swap-body demountables and temperature-controlled trailers. Its customer portfolio is significantly comprised household brands, major parcel operators and haulage firms. Underpinned by an apprenticeship programme and multi-shift production, Tiger is able to offer competitive build slots. The company also offers finance and leasing, along with an OEM and general Parts service.

Livestock nutrition company Harbro has put a 6×2 rigid drawbar unit with close-coupled three-axle trailer and two new IVECO S-WAY 6×2 mid-lift tractor units into service.

The IVECO S-WAY 6×2 6.7m chassis (AS260S42Y/PS) is fitted with a 7.9m curtain-sided body and is powered by the CURSOR 11 420hp diesel and tows a three-axle curtain sided trailer. The unit is fitted with a VBG coupling which enables the driver to detach the trailer to access the most difficult to reach farms when delivering animal feed across Scotland.

The S-Way drawbar unit will cover around 120,000km annually and despite the size of the combined unit provides an impressive 28t of payload, while a rear-steer third axle further adds to the rigid’s manoeuvrability.

The drawbar unit replaces an IVECO Stralis six-wheel rigid and came about after a meeting between Harbro’s head of logistics Billy McTavish and IVECO dealer AM Phillips’ sales director Tim Hally. The dealer had a three-axle drawbar trailer for sale and after closer analysis of the weights and measures in the IVECO S-WAY brochure a drawbar plan was conceived.

Harbro runs 50 trucks out of its Aberdeenshire headquarters which includes a mixed fleet of tractor units, rigids and 7.2t curtain-siders that deliver animal feed to over 8,000 farms and smallholdings from the north of England to the Scottish islands.

It also owns a network of 21 retail country stores stretching from the Borders to the Shetlands. The trucks make palleted deliveries to the stores and then backload raw materials to feed Harbro’s manufacturing facilities which produce 270,000t of livestock feed each year.

Supplied on a three-year Repair and Maintenance contract, the IVECO S-WAY rigid is fitted with the 2.1m (internally) tall AS sleeper cab which contains every conceivable comfort such as fridge/freezer, leather seats and steering wheel.

“The new S-WAY represents a major step-change for the brand, and drivers love the cabin which is spacious and very comfortable. They are spending five days and four nights in their truck each week so it’s important that they have all the home comforts as well as providing them with a good driving experience,” said McTavish.

“The drawbar unit brings another dimension to the fleet and is very flexible for drivers whilst providing us with an impressive payload,” he added.

Harbro has also specified both 6×2 IVECO S-WAY mid-lift tractor units with the range-topping Cursor 13 570hp diesel which generates maximum power at between 1605 –1900rpm. Fitted with the option of air suspension, they provide drivers with the ultimate companion as they traverse Scotland and northern England.

One truck tows a three axle-bulk blower trailer with electric rear-wheel steer while the other tractor unit, fresh out of the paint shop, will tow a three-axle tipper or curtain-sided trailer. As with all new trucks joining the Harbro fleet, each IVECO S-WAY is specified with leather upholstery, alloy wheels, air horns and LED light bars.

Both IVECO S-WAYs have been supplied on a three-year full Repair and Maintenance contract by AM Phillip Trucktech in Forfar, with each truck covering around 350,000km during that time.

“The tractor units travel the length and breadth of Scotland and the drivers have been impressed at the power and flexibility of the 570hp engine which is returning a very reasonable 7.6mpg. Having that amount of power on tap certainly helps tackle all terrains and with air suspension and the comfort of the IVECO S-WAY cabin drivers are well set for their week-long shift behind the wheel,” said McTavish.

The IVECO fleet doesn’t stop there, with Harbro also running an IVECO Daily 7.2t curtain-sider which makes deliveries to the retail store network, while an IVECO Stralis 18-tonner is based permanently on the Isle of Skye to deliver feed and consumables to farmers across the island.

“The IVECO S-WAY provides the optimal chassis on which operators can design and build bespoke vehicles to carry out very specific missions. The Harbro drawbar unit is one of the first to go into operation in the UK while the 570hp IVECO S-WAYs are perfect to soak up the arduous terrain of Scotland and northern England,” commented Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO’s Medium & Heavy Business Line Director.

 

UK commercial vehicle hire company, Falcon Vehicle Solutions, has taken delivery of 15 new Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 MT (multi-temperature) refrigeration units, in a move to deliver improved sustainability and reduced costs for its rental customers.

Aligned with Carrier’s 2030 ESG goals to reduce customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton, these fuel efficient units will reduce the emissions of Falcon Vehicle Solutions’ rental fleet. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.

Mounted to new 13.6m Chereau trailers, this is the first time Falcon Vehicle Solutions has specified Carrier Transicold’s flagship Vector HE 19 unit, previously opting for the legacy Vector 1950 MT system for its 250-strong fleet of temperature-controlled trailers and vehicles, which is now 97% Carrier-cooled.

“We’ve been a Carrier Transicold customer for more than a decade, during which they have continually impressed us with outstanding products and aftersales support,” said Darren Moore, Senior UK Key Accounts Manager, Falcon Vehicle Solutions. “When we were shown the environmental and cost benefits of the Vector HE 19 unit, we knew they would be the ideal choice. Being more efficient and much quieter, all 15 additional trailers were immediately snapped up by our customers and we’re getting excellent feedback.”

Combining Carrier Transicold’s E-Drive all-electric technology with an all-new multi-speed engine design, the Vector HE 19 MT unit can cut fuel consumption by up to 30% while operating 3 dB(A) quieter – which to the human ear equates to 50% less noise – when compared to the previous generation Vector 1950 MT unit.

Additionally, the unit’s fully hermetic scroll compressor and economiser provide a 40% increase in refrigeration capacity during pull-down, reduces the chance of refrigerant escape by 50% and, when plugged into the electrical grid on standby, is 19% more efficient.

Collectively, these factors reduce diesel, maintenance and electricity costs, making the Vector HE 19 MT unit an extremely attractive proposition for end-users.

“As a vehicle hire business, we don’t experience the fuel savings first-hand, but the new units allow us to drive down fuel costs for our customers, while cutting emissions and increasing their fleet sustainability – precisely what customers want from a trusted supplier,” added Moore. “This experience with the Vector HE 19 has reminded us why Carrier Transicold remains our number one choice for transport refrigeration equipment.”

The trailers will operate for six years, primarily delivering frozen and chilled food to the hospitality and retail sectors for a range of customers. They will clock up approximately 120,000km per year and be on the road seven days a week.

Falcon Vehicle Solutions was founded more than 30 years ago and, since 2017, has been part of the Ballyvesey Holdings Group of Companies. It has two branches in Somerset, plus an HGV operation based in Bridgwater, with a complete fleet size of approximately 700 vehicles and trailers hired to both corporate and private customers across the UK.

Telford-based transportation company, Dale Brothers UK, has taken delivery of six new refrigerated trailers, each mounted with the company’s first Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 MT (high efficiency multi-temperature) units, a move designed to help reduce running costs and improve fleet efficiency. Carrier Transicold is a leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.

A Carrier Transicold customer since 2000, Dale Brothers UK’s six new 13.6m Chereau trailers replace older assets. Eight more identical trailers are expected for delivery in 2022.

“We first started using Carrier equipment more than 20 years ago when we bought some second-hand trailers mounted with their systems,” said Neyland Dale, Managing Director, Dale Brothers UK. “We were so impressed with the performance and reliability, when it came to replacing those trailers, specifying new Carrier units was the only logical next step – and we’ve been doing that each time we’ve updated our fleet since.”

Combining Carrier Transicold E-Drive all-electric technology with a new multi-speed engine design, the Vector HE 19 unit delivers up to 30% fuel savings when compared to the previous generation Vector 1950. In addition, the system’s fully hermetic scroll compressor and economiser provides a 40% increase in refrigeration capacity during pull-down, as well as a 50% reduction in refrigerant escape.

Carrier Transicold says the system is also 19% more efficient when plugged into the electrical grid on standby, meaning that the Vector HE 19 unit can help to lower diesel, maintenance and electricity costs. In addition, the units operate 3 dB(A) quieter than the legacy Vector 1950, significantly reducing sound pollution.

“We specifically chose the new Vector HE 19 unit after hearing good things from our fellow logistics customers about how efficient they are,” said Dale. “With increased cooling capacity and better fuel efficiency, we will reduce our running costs while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint.”

Dale Brothers UK has also opted for Carrier Transicold’s advanced telematics package. The system’s two-way wireless communication helps fleets manage their refrigerated assets through remote unit monitoring and control, alongside diagnostics and data management. The system allows Dale Brothers to demonstrate its effective management of the cold chain to its customers, helping to provide additional levels of customer service.

Expected to operate for eight to 10 years, the new trailers will transport a variety of fresh and frozen food products for customers across the UK and northern Europe. Operating six to seven days a week, they typically clock up around 130,000km per year from the company’s main depot in Telford.

Thermo King, a leader in transport temperature control solutions, has been awarded the global Project Excellence Award from the Project Management Institute (PMI) for launching Advancer – a disruptive re-imagining of the trailer refrigeration unit.

“We are pleased to see the Advancer project recognised for its excellence,” said Francesco Incalza, president of Thermo King Europe, Middle East and Africa. “At Thermo King, our team continues to bring solutions to market that give customers a new standard in transport refrigeration with breakthrough efficiency, quality, and reliability. We’re pushing innovation to its very limit so that customers can take their operations to the next level – and beyond, whilst reducing their own environmental footprint.

“The Advancer project is a great example of our efficient project management capabilities and our commitment to creating a positive impact for society. This is something we strive to achieve in all our projects. This award complements our earlier industry recognition received for Advancer highlighting the best-in-class manufacturing production and engineering processes including an award for Advancer’s Carbon Neutral Manufacturing, and Engineering Endeavour.”

The Advancer units are manufactured in Thermo King’s zero-waste to landfill plant in Galway, Ireland. The newly designed, state-of-the-art production line uses 60% less energy than the production process of previous Thermo King trailer products.

The award recognises the Advancer project team for delivering superior performance of project management practices, superior organisational results, and positive impacts on society. Advancer offers an all-new design architecture that creates a bold new standard for performance, temperature control, fleet connectivity, superior load protection, and unmatched fuel efficiency. Combined, these capabilities deliver greater operational flexibility, while helping customers achieve significant improvements in fleet uptime and total cost of ownership.

On-the-road and in-use, Advancer results in a 30% reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to previous units – contributing significantly to the Trane Technologies’ Gigaton Challenge and  2030 sustainability aspirations. The commitment aims to reduce customers’ carbon emissions by one gigaton – equivalent to the annual emissions of Italy, France and the United Kingdom combined.

Since 1974, the prestigious PMI Professional Awards have honoured organisations and their teams whose passion, talent, and expertise have made the greatest contributions to the project management profession or to PMI. The 2021 PMI Professional Awards were announced during PMI’s virtual experience ceremony on 7th October.

Thermo King is a brand of Trane Technologies.

 

One of Europe’s leading manufacturers of printed side curtains, Roland International, has further improved its intermodal solution XLS for cargo that tends to bulge. Ewals Cargo Care, one of Europe’s largest intermodal transport companies, has adapted the XLS solution combined with InfiniShield graphics as standard for its entire fleet.

Roland and Ewals invented the XLS system in partnership. This advanced patented solution has all features of a conventional side curtain and in addition, the unique Mega Huckepack XLS is a structurally stronger and safer trailer to transport cargo such as tyres, bulk bags and other loose products.

The current XL certified trailer (EN 12642 XL) does not meet the requirements for specific industries where the cargo tends to bulge during transport by road, rail or short sea ferry.

The curtain is fitted with vertical aluminium planks and has become a vital part in the total vehicle construction, suitable for load securing. The curtain, which can be forced inwards before loading, ensures that the trailer will not exceed the legal width limits – regardless of the type of cargo.

New improvements were developed, reducing the system weight by more than 80kg per vehicle, without any compromise on the performance. This results in lower system costs, more ergonomic handling, higher payload and thus increased efficiency to the end user. This ultimate solution has been tested and certified by German authorities (TÜV and UCI).

Ewals Cargo Care has adapted the XLS solution as its standard side curtain for over 10 years. Bart van Rens, Manager Fleet Control Ewals Cargo Care, explains: “We deliberately chose Roland as our partner to develop a side curtain solution, because they have the know-how, experience and manufacturing capabilities in-house. Partially based on our feedback from operational use, the solution has been further optimised. We’ve equipped over 2,000 trailers with XLS Side Curtains. To us, this is the new industry standard in intermodal transport.”

InfiniShield is a full range of digital and traditional printing technologies, specifically developed for side curtains, with multiple protective coatings to provide the perfect solution for every trailer. Combined with Roland’s thorough understanding of colour, composition, typography and design principles, and in-house graphic design team, they create breath-taking full colour prints. Together with the coatings, these curtains are dirt-repellent, easy to clean with up to five years’ warranty.

Sean Spelman, Product & Technology Cargo Control Company, says: “Roland has always been the pioneer in printing. Back in 1985, Roland was the first company in the industry to print on side curtains. At our Centre of Excellence in Europe we’re offering our customers any digital or offset printing technology available. Based on the requirements of the customer we’re able to provide the ultimate printed curtain, from single sets to entire fleets.”

Sean explains: “We continuously invest in development of digital printing technologies, quality of graphics and coating, to maintain our No.1 position in the market. We’re proud to be recognised for our innovative side curtain solutions and outstanding durability under all conditions. Supplying our solutions throughout Europe from small to large end users.”