Express delivery company City Link has selected the Iveco Eurocargo as its vehicle of choice for 7.5 tonne operations, after evaluating a range of different products on the market.
City Link’s 200-strong 7.5 tonne fleet of box body and curtainside vehicles are used primarily for urban distribution and are operated by a network of owner-drivers and contractors throughout the UK, with every vehicle liveried in its distinctive green and yellow corporate livery.
Mark Johnson, UK National Fleet Manager for Rentokil Initial, City Link’s parent company, explains: “Our 7.5 tonne fleet comprises a mixture of different vehicle marques and we felt there was an opportunity to further enhance our productivity by standardising on the vehicle we believe is best suited to the role.
“We chose the Eurocargo for its healthy payload capacity and strong reputation in the industry for excellent reliability. A number of the other models we looked at were either uncompetitive on payload or not robust enough for the demands of multi-drop work in congested city centre environments,” he adds.
Also key to the Eurocargo’s selection was its automated EuroTronic transmission, which is standard on all 4×2 models. This gearbox eliminates the requirement for a clutch pedal and helps to enhance driver comfort, particularly for stop-start urban driving. It also serves to remove any risk of over-revving the engine by ensuring the truck is always in the right gear, which in turn prolongs clutch life.
The Eurocargo’s neatly designed 2.2m wide cab and impressive 52 degree steering angle ensures a tight turning circle and maximum manoeuvrability. This is matched with an unobtrusive centre console and engine tunnel inside the cab, enabling drivers to move about effortlessly without having to climb over or around obstacles – essential for multi-drop distribution.
Amongst the first fleets to operate a new Eurocargo in City Link colours is Southampton-based Abacus Logistics, which has taken delivery of three Eurocargo 75E16s from local Iveco dealer Hendy Van & Truck. The new fleet comprises one box bodied rigid and two curtainsiders, with each vehicle powered by the proven 3.92 litre tector engine which is capable of producing 160 hp at 2,700 rev/min and up to 530 Nm of torque between 1,200 and 2,100 rev/min.
Like all new Eurocargo engines, these are certified to meet the stringent Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle (EEV) standards, originally developed as the appropriate level for a CNG-powered vehicle. This now serves as a stepping stone between Euro 5 and Euro 6, reducing pollutant levels and helping to ‘future proof’ vehicles even further from expected changes in Low Emission Zone requirements.
