Twin decks turn up volume
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• by Bryan Jarvis
Sawston, Cambridgeshirebased office equipment supplier Spicers has improved its vehicle tumround time and boosted its carrying capacity by adding two more stepped twindeck trailers to its 33-vehicle trunking fleet, which now includes 16 double-deckers.
The new duo, which are pulled by new Leyland Daf 85.340 4x2s, are based on Fruehauf tandem-axled chassis which have Southfields GAP bodywork and Ray Smith electronically levelling lifting second decks.
The double-deckers are filled directly from the loading bay: first the neck section then, with its front safety gates closed, the moving deck. When laden, the 8.5m extra deck lifts and locks into its travelling position 1.84m above wheelbox/ neck height, allowing the main floor to be filled.
When not required, the extra deck locks away near the roof.
The new 12m vans are 4.53m high and 2.55m wide-100mm wider inside than comparable Spicers single-deckers. "Instead of carrying fresh air the doubledeckers let us take another 22 of our own pallets," says Spicers' transport manager, Tony Ketch. That a 63% improvement overall."