Transdek Secures Major Double Deck Trailer Order

Transdek UK has secured a major order from Boots UK for 60 fixed double deck Wedge trailers, which are expected to generate significant savings for the retailer relative to its stepframe double deck fleet. The trailers will be the first to be manufactured by The Cartwright Group under a new licensing partnership announced at the end of April.

Boots UK is the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer with over 2,500 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores. Part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Boots UK has an extensive logistics network with over 8,500* deliveries to stores per week.

The new 4.95 metre high Wedge trailers allow full height clearance for loading over the neck, carrying 128 roll cages, which amounts to 23% more load compared to the company’s existing stepframe trailers that carry 104 roll cages. The extra load capacity has enabled Boots UK to reduce its trunking fleet size from 340 to 280 trailers, maximising the initial return on investment.

The order follows over two months of ‘live’ trials of Transdek’s Wedge trailers by Boots UK, which demonstrated faster loading speeds and increased vehicle utilisation as any combination of load modules can be accommodated on the two decks.

James Parkinson, Primary Transport Assistant Contract Manager at Boots UK, said: “With the introduction of Transdek’s innovative Wedge trailer we are aiming to save on average 1,092 trunks a year, which would cut up to 348,000km (216,000 miles) from our routes.

“These significant savings support our goal to deliver retail products from our warehouses to Boots stores as efficiently as possible. As a responsible retailer, we are continually working with supply chain partners to reduce the impact that we have on the environment, and reduce our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.”

The trailers have a range of innovative patent pending features, including their unique chassis and body design, and independent twin slide rear doors, which allow the doors to remain sealed until after docking and provide increased load security. In addition, they avoid safety hazards for drivers that can occur when opening barn doors in busy yards prior to docking.

As a high volume order, the 60 fixed double deck trailers will be built by The Cartwright Group, utilising the company’s value engineering expertise at its European manufacturing facility in Altrincham, Cheshire, with a phased delivery programme.

Transdek has worked closely with Boots UK for the last nine years as a supply chain enhancement partner, developing products to deliver distribution centre efficiencies and support the growing double deck trunking network that Boots UK has throughout the UK and Ireland. This has involved Transdek installing over 75 of its award winning double deck lift loading systems at sites across the UK.