CUNARD DOUBLES SKELETAL FLEET
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CUNARD LINE managing director Mr. Philip Bates last week signed contracts with two companies in the Transport Development Group which will more than double Cunard's fleet of special trailers for containers.
Under this long-term hire and maintenance contract the two companies—Will Harper and Sons Ltd. and J. and R. Wright (Haulage) Ltd.—will provide Cunard with an initial fleet of 80 skeletal trailers for 20ft and 40ft Cunard/ACL containers. This is in addition to 50 similar trailers which Cunard already operates.
Containers will be preloaded on to these trailers at ports ready for speedy removal by prime movers, enabling a quicker turnround of both Cunard/ACL containers and hauliers' tractive units.
As a result of the contract Cunard's skeletal trailers, already in service in London, will be available soon in Liverpool and Glasgow. The scheme may later be extended country-wide at inland container depots.
Tying in with this trailer fleet, Cunard this week offers a new form of interchange agreement. Hauliers who sign will not use the Cunard fleet of skeletal trailers, but will be able to freely interchange their own skeletal trailers with Cunard's and with each other.
These developments are preliminaries to the merging of Cunard's US freight traffic with the full Atlantic Container Line operation in 1969, when Cunard's two container ships come into service with ACL.
The interchange agreement will also enable hauliers to take advantage of the through bill of lading procedure already operated by ACL between the Continent and the US. It will eventually allow the use of a single document for container traffic between the UK and the USA instead of the multiple documentation now required.
These luxury front seats are to be made available as a factory fitted optional extra for all Land-Rover models. The seats, designed by Rover, are being introduced after two years of development tests.
Finished in black, with fluted centre panel cushion and backrest, the seats provide lateral support and positive location through thigh and backrest side rolls. Both driver's and outer passenger seats incorporate fore-and-aft adjustment. The centre seat in Normal Control Land-Rovers is in matching trim but is not adjustable. Centre sections are foam latex rubber, the sides of moulded polyether foam. The seats will be fitted during production. Extra cost will he £12 10e a set. It is hoped that eventually they will be available for existing Land-Rovers, but the price will be higher.