Loads up for road/rail
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CARGO capacity is up by 10 per cent on Hako Ferry Service (UK) Ltd's fleet as a result of special design features on its TIR trailers built by Cooks (Road Transport Engineers) Ltd.
The high-capacity design employs a chassis neck depth of only 180mm (6in), allowing extra internal headroom within the constraints of the overall TIR limitations. Because of the Austrian government's levy on road tax imposed in June this year, some of Hako's journeys have become cheaper by rail.
Cross-members at only 300mm (12in) centres provide a high degree of strength as protection against loading by fork-lifts. Widespread heavy duty suspensions are incorporated and a swinging underrun bumper allows the trailers to be loaded on to rail wagons without danger of fouling raised sections of the rail wagon's deck.
Removable side pillars are spaced between fixed front and rear pillars. Three-piece steel side grids above the aluminium dropsides have been designed by Cooks for easy handling. Risk of impact damage to the top of the headboard has been minimised by the inclusion of shear pins positioned about 18in below the cant rail.
Hako carries general cargoes from steel stock to foodstuffs to destinations throughout Europe.