Plenty of front
Trailer manufacturers continue to adopt aerodynamic revisions to reduce drag and fuel costs, but what about the cab? Dave Young looks at impending advances in tractor units
Nine point evaluation finds for MAN and Mercedes
Home Delivery Network (HDNL), one of the largest contractors for online goods deliveries in the UK, has now taken delivery of 158 new MAN rigids and 500 Mercedes Sprinters. They're all fleet replacements, which is unremarkable, except that in these tough economic times, they're pretty big numbers. And HDNL says there will be more next year – 750 vans and 200 additional tractors.
P&C Hamilton chooses Vector 1550 and Gray & Adams for latest trailer
Temperature-controlled transport operator P&C Hamilton says the promise of reducing unladen weight and improving fuel efficiency led it to specify its first Vector1550 unit from Carrier Transicold UK.
Rigid and drawbar combination exceeds haulier’s expectations
The first of two new Volvo FH 460 6x2 rigids has entered service with Devon-based haulier M R Horn Transport, which is using the truck with a tri-axle drawbar trailer at 44-tonnes gtw.
Safe and secure
Developments around loading bay operations are set to improve safety way beyond the bay itself and out onto the vehicles. John Challen reports
Safe and sound?
Prohibition notices are still being srved for insecure loads, despite the rise of EN 12642-XL certified curtainsiders. Steve Banner examines the issues and warns operators that the European standard is not a simple fix
Informed pragmatism
Getting trailer specifications right – not just for the immmediate requirement but also for the longer term – demands up to date knowledge of available technologies. However, a serious dose of informed pragmatism is also advisable, warns Brian Tinham
It’s a long story
With the Department for Transport's 10-year trial of longer vehicles now well underway, John Challen talks to operators, developers and manufacturers about their performances to date
Jack of all trailers
From three northern UK factories, Montracon supplies a huge range of trailers, from reefers to machinery movers to curtainsiders and boxes. And it is just getting bigger, reports Steve Banner
Jewel in the crown
Stumbling across really impressive workshops isn’t anyone’s everyday experience. Brian Tinham reports on something rather special in Springburn