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The introduction of national pallet networks has proved an ingenious idea, with its roots in collectivism and free enterprise.

18th September 2008
Page 52
Page 53
Page 52, 18th September 2008 — The introduction of national pallet networks has proved an ingenious idea, with its roots in collectivism and free enterprise.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

It allows a business to share its trade with competitors without the competition. by giving and receiving pallets.

For the giver, it cuts down on running costs, provides a decent supply of work and allows hauliers to offer better services to local businesses.

Nationwide pallet networks have also given rise to the double-deck trailer — a truly British invention — which has changed the nature of trunking in the UK.

Hauliers have slimmed down their fleet and wage bills, as more freight can be carried using one of these trailers, but where does the next saving come from?

The answer is a sloping front.

Those operators savvy enough to marry up tractor and trailer aerodynamics can see huge savings. There is the question of reduced freight space in a trailer specced for volume over weight, but is it a step in the right direction?

CM first assessed this question with Trailer Resources Limited [CM 24 January 'Fuel savings are in the air], when we track tested a sloping-roof double-deck trailer, now we have gone one step further and ventured out on to the open road with the help of hauage firm B Taylor & Sons.

Back then, we ran two empty trailers and a 6x2 Renault Premium 450 tractor around the test track at a constant speed of 85km/h. We found a 7.8% fuel saving with the slopingfront trailer.

We already had an idea of what we could save, but it didn't include the typical perils of traffic lights. roundabouts, errant car drivers and hill climbs out and about on the open road.

The conclusion

When we asked B Taylor 8.c Sons' managing director Alan Taylor about the merits of the sloping trailer fronts and flat headboards, his answer was simple. He says: "You don't see any flat headboards on my fleet." That he had to borrow one from the Fortec pallet network simply backs up his statement.

On the road, the only noticeable difference between the two trailers was the hill climbs.

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The flat-front trailer slowed while going uphill, and, although it gained momentum going downhill, it was not as noticeable as with the sloping-front trailer.

With the latter, the brakes were needed to remain within the speed limit and it was easier to maintain speed going up the hill.

For productivity, you have to weigh up that extra fuel saving against lost payload and load space. There are operators running double-deck trailers that do it using a 4x2 tractor, so that lost volume is more significant with these trailers because its not a weight issue, Deciding which is more important, freight or fuel, is a decision the transport manager is paid to make. •

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