The Delivery Co., the Northampton-based specialist logistics provider for members of the PaperlinX group, has introduced the UK’s first eight teardrop-bodied distribution vehicles into service. Branded ‘Curved to cut CO2′ and based on 26-tonnes gross vehicle weight Scania chassis and equipped with bodywork by Don-Bur, the trucks are now operating on the nationwide distribution of paper and plastics products for Robert Horne Group, Howard Smith Paper and The Paper Company.
All eight vehicles are built on Scania 6×2 chassis featuring 320 horsepower Scania Euro 5 engines with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Scania Opticruise automated gear selection systems. Five of the chassis are normal-height vehicles, three of which have been supplied by Scania (Great Britain) Limited’s South West region and two by Manchester-based West Pennine Trucks Limited. The remaining three trucks are low-height chassis delivered by Stowmarket-based Scania dealer, TruckEast Limited.
The vehicles, which are based at a total of seven locations around the country, have been supplied on six-year full contract hire agreements. These cover all repair and maintenance of the trucks and their bodywork, including tail-lifts and replacement tyres, with work being carried out by the three supplying dealers.
“Scania was selected as our preferred supplier following a benchmarking exercise which showed it to be both the class-leading vehicle and particularly well-suited to our needs,” comments Brian Moran, Operations Manager for The Delivery Co. “As well as the trucks’ impressive fuel efficiency, reliability and overall performance, Scania Opticruise reduces driver fatigue, an important factor in multi-drop operations such as ours.”
Archive for February, 2010
New, aerodynamically styled distribution rigids
Friday, February 26th, 2010
1,000-Truck Deal for Scania
Friday, February 26th, 2010Stobart Group and A. W. Jenkinson Forest Products have a joint-procurement agreement on purchasing various items, with trucks being one of them, and together they have placed an order with Scania for 1,000 trucks.
Mainly comprising Scania R-series models, the order also includes a significant number of Scania G-series vehicles. Deliveries will commence this month.
“As an established marque within the Eddie Stobart and A. W. Jenkinson fleets, the operating efficiency and all-round value delivered by the Scania product is well-known and appreciated by both our companies.
The order for the 1,000 trucks is 80/20 per cent split in Stobart’s favour, which comprises of vehicle replacement plus new growth within the Group,” comments Stobart Group Chief Operating Officer, William Stobart. “The 400 and 440 horsepower engines specified in this order meet the latest Euro 5 environmental standard without the need for any additives or exhaust gas after-treatment, which offers considerable advantages from an operational point-of-view.”
For Scania (Great Britain) Limited, Managing Director Hans-Christer Holgersson comments: “We are naturally delighted to receive this order, which marks our continued association with two of the most respected names in the UK transport industry.
RENAULT TRUCKS SOUTH’S DAF CONQUEST
Friday, February 26th, 2010Haulage company, Slough International Freight and Packaging Ltd., has taken delivery of a new Renault Magnum 6×2 
500.25, with Optidriver+ gearbox and multipass cab. In an important conquest deal for Renault Trucks and Renault Trucks South, this is the first Renault that the company has taken and it joins a previously all DAF fleet.
The Renault Magnum will be undertaking long distance, UK haulage, the majority of which will be for the food industry. Dave Matthews, Managing Director, Slough International Freight and Packaging Ltd., says: “We chose the new Renault Magnum as we felt it offered excellent value for money. It is a quality, great looking truck at a very competitive price. The Renault Magnum’s automated gearbox and spacious cab makes it very driver friendly for long distance work and our drivers are very happy with the vehicle. The service we receive from Renault Trucks South is also very good and we would certainly consider adding more Renaults to our fleet in the future.”
Universal Fit Truck Seat Cover
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010Town and Country Covers Ltd, the Hampshire based protective seat covers manufacturer, has recently added a universal fit Truck Seat cover to their range. Manufactured in polyester with a waterproof polyurethane lining the Universal Truck Seat Cover offers complete protection from dirt, damage and wear and tear. UK Sales Manager Steve May told Trucklocator that initial sales have come as a shock. “We knew there was a demand for a product like this but the take up has been something of a surprise. The recession last year meant fleet operators kept vehicles on the road for longer and took greater care to protect their residual values which in turn led to increased sales of seat covers.” Town and Country Covers Ltd will be showing this and other covers from their range on stand 4025 at the Commercial Vehicle Operators show in April
Mercedes-Benz BlueTec EEV trucks
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010In certain output classes of the Actros and Axor, the BlueTec EEV version has been gradually introduced from autumn 2009 to July 2010
Atego > 12 t available in all output classes from March 2010
For the Econic, BlueTec EEV is part of the extended specification from January 2010
Particulates reduced by one third versus Euro 5
Country-specific subsidies for EEV technology
EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) is a classification used for engines which comply with an even more stringent exhaust emission standard than Euro 5. The EEV standard reduces particulate emissions by roughly a further one third compared to the already stringent Euro 5 limits. In extending its truck range, Mercedes-Benz will be gradually introducing EEV versions in certain output classes of the Mercedes-Benz Actros, Axor and Atego up to July 2010. BlueTec EEV is already part of the extended specification for the Mercedes-Benz Econic from January 2010. Incentives are offered for this technology in some European countries. The engines in the OM 920 and OM 501 series have been developed even further for this purpose. Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles equipped with this feature can be recognised by the additional “BlueTec EEV” model plate.
Since October 2009, the optional, ex factory availability of BlueTec EEV vehicles has applied to on-road Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in the output classes 300 kW (408 hp), 320 kW (435 hp) and 335 kW (456 hp), as well as the Mercedes-Benz Axor in output classes 210 kW (286 hp) and 240 kW (326 hp). From July 2010 the Actros will be available in a BlueTec EEV version for the variants with 235 kW (320 hp) and 265 kW (360 hp), thereby extending the BlueTec EEV range in the OM 501 LA engine series (the largest engine developing 350 kW is not available in an EEV version).
From March 2010 the entire Mercedes-Benz Atego series with all output classes of the OM 924 LA engines (130 kW (177 hp), 160 kW (218 hp)) and OM 926 LA engines (175 kW (238 hp), 188 kW (256 hp), 210 kW (286 hp)) will be available in EEV versions.
As a significant product enhancement and to improve value retention even further, BlueTec EEV is included in the extended standard equipment of the Mercedes-Benz Econic, which is frequently in service as a municipal or distribution vehicle in environmentally sensitive inner-city areas. This applies to both the 210 kW (286 hp) and the 240 kW (326 hp) diesel engine variants.
The technology for compliance with the voluntary EEV emission standard is based on the new BlueTec 5 diesel technology from Mercedes-Benz, which involves the installation of additional technological features. In the EEV version of the OM 501 LA engine, a change to the engine’s characteristic map has led to a reduction in particulate emissions by more than 30 percent. To this end the injection nozzle pressure was increased, and the injection nozzle/line/attachment system was redesigned. Substantial technical modifications were made to the OM 920 LA engine series, of which EEV versions can be ordered in all available output classes as the OM 924 LA EEV and OM 926 LA EEV. Additional exhaust gas aftertreatment is not necessary. In terms of maintenance, operating life, fuel consumption, weight and installation space, the EEV solution adopted for Mercedes-Benz trucks is at the same level as with the well-proven BlueTec 5 technology.
Subsidies for EEV technology: in Germany, EEV is subsidised for trucks over 12 t permissible gross vehicle weight under a government-approved support programme operated by the KfW Bank (redefined figures will apply from spring 2010 in Germany) In the Netherlands there is also a subsidy available under a government support programme. A subsidy in the form of a ten percent reduction in motorway toll charges is also granted for EEV vehicles in Austria. Customers whose Actros is already equipped with an NOx sensor (from autumn 2007) are able to retrofit the EEV technology, thereby also benefitting from the reduced toll charges.
Canter comes with EEV compliance as standard from February
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Euro 5 vehicles produced from February 2010 come with EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) compliance as standard
EEV particulate emissions are some 30 % below the Euro 5 level
First light truck in the 3.5-t to 7.5-t perm GVW segment with EEV for all model variants
From February 2010 the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter comes with EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) compliance as standard and therefore offers even greater environmental compatibility (through a reduction in particulate emissions of some 30 %, for example) than the existing Euro 5 engine range. As all the engine variants comply with the new standard – from the 96-kW (130-hp) version to the 107-kW (145-hp) unit right up to the new 129-kW (175-hp) engine – all vehicles ordered from November 2009 come with it. This makes the Canter the first light truck in the 3.5-t to 7.5-t perm. GVW segment to provide EEV compliance for all model variants. Fuel consumption is not increased as a result. EEV is particularly relevant with regard to fleet operators and municipalities as compliance with this voluntary standard is a condition of certain invitations to tender.
The Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is a real success story. It has been in production since 1963 and today is in its seventh generation. Since its launch, some 3.5 million Canters have rolled off the assembly lines around the world; this makes it the world’s best-selling vehicle for the lightweight truck class between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes perm. GVW. In Europe, these vehicles have been distributed and supported exclusively by the Daimler sales organisation since 2001. An outstanding feature of the Canter is its high payload capacity – in the case of the Fuso Canter 7C15 (7.5 tonnes perm. GVW), for example, the chassis weight rating of 5.02 t results in a payload of about 4000 kg, depending on the body variant – with compact exterior dimensions.