1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188 
DEALS ON WHEELS
Page 58
Page 59
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Our series examining operator's motives for their latest acquisitions ranges from a baker's wagon with an auto box to a crane truck...
THE BAKING BUSINESS may be rooted in tradition but that's not stopped national chain Greggs looking forward when it comes to technology. Its new Mercedes Atego 15tonner comes with six-speed Telligent gearbox-the first auto on the fleet.
Logistics manager Andrew Hutchinson reports that it offers several benefits over the manual:"It's a trial vehicle for our whole fleet but certain figures have already jumped out. We're showing average returns 2rripg better than our 13-tonne Atego 1318. Automated transmissions are making their mark in high-spec.longhaul tractor units but they haven't yet filtered down to the lighter end of the market, even though it's this sector particularly multi-drop urban distribution applications that auto transmissions are best suited to.
Hutchinson adds: "One or two have commented that the automated transmission doesn't 'pick up quite as quickly as a manual box, but to be honest that's a good thing.
"If it encourages them to drive more smoothly, with less harsh acceleration, they will be both safer and more economical, as well as reducing wear and tear on the driveline.he concludes. There were a number of issues to address when Turners of Soham was choosing its latest tractor unit for the milk tanker fleet. We needed a tractor unit that was as safe as possible, specified to minimise the risk of roll over, as well as a light and robust chassis," says Turners' fleet engineer, Tim King. "Other issues include fuel performance and clutch wear."
The Volvo FM12 features the company's electronic stability programme {ESP) and electronic braking system. These work in conjunction, sensing the possibility of a rot-over and controlling the brakes and power available to the driven wheels.
King says: With the truck carrying a liquid load the possibility of roll-over is increased. The ESP system cuts down that risk dramatically."
The Volvo also weighs under 7.5 tonnes unladen. This was achieved by choosing a day cab in 'comfort trim' with aluminium wheels and the I-Shift automated box which gives a weight saving of 60kg over the conventional manual synchromesh gearbox.
MANY FACTORS INFLUENCE operators' purchasing decisions but the two major categories are financial and emotional. Hawes Signs in Northampton had both in mind with its latest acquisition.
Procurement manager Nigel Hawes explains: "Before placing the order we compared the Eurocargo against its main rivals in the marketplace. It stood out in terms of payload capacity and whole-life costs, while its freshly designed cab offers impressive levels of comfort for the crew, especially on long journeys."
The new Iveco Eurocargo 180E24 has a 6210mm wheelbase and is fitted with a 28ft platform built by Plant Equipment. Power is provided by a 240hp version of the 5.9litre Tector engine, producing up to 810Nm of torque and driving via a nine-speed manual box.
The 18-tonner comes with an Atlas 190.2 A4 crane.