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COST CUTTER
Page 54
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Christian Salvesen had an idea for a radical multi-deck drawbar rig that would boost the versatility of its fleet and cut overall costs
— Don-Bur helped make it a reality. Kevin Swallow reports.
Drawbar applications aren't everyone's cup of tea, but given the right environment they do serve a purpose. When Christian Salvesen's fleet services and procurement director Steve Mercer needed to improve trunking and local distribution he realised that a drawbar with versatile multideck curtain-sided swap bodies could reduce the fleet's running costs.
In collaboration with Don-Bur, Christian Salvesen developed and refined the traditional drawbar swap body combination into the imaginatively named Concept Vehicle which was designed for maximum efficiency.
Evolution not revolution
Mercer is at pains to point out that this idea won't revolutionise the fleet but will help to improve specific areas,Trunking between depots is currently handled by 18-tonners and artics, but moving to drawbar and multi-deck volume bodies should allow four vehicles to do the work of five.
Depending on the success of Christian Salvesen's service trials, over the next three years more than 15% of the shared user network (where trunking vehicles double up as daytime multi-drop delivery vehicles) will be converted to the Concept Vehicle system.
Mercer says breaking down pence per kilometre means a 14% increase on local work because the prime mover is a 6x2 rigid with a 380hp engine -more than is required for urban distribution .The benefits are reaped on the whole package, with money saved on the stern trips (trunking routes) where loading versatility means more cargo can be put on the new-style rigs.
"A view would be that where volume of trunks on specific legs are available savings of up to 20% may be achieved,he explains. "With the correct traffic mix a 22% increase in productivity may be achieved," •