NEWS OPERATORS
10 TRUCKING August 2019 http://www.truckingmag.co.uk
S
taffordshire-based
Hawkins Logistics has
put three new Volvo
FH500 tractor units
into service to join a
fleet of 45 vehicles.
Underneath three different cab
liveries, the trio feature a number
of powertrain options and will be
directly compared on performance
and fuel economy levels.
“We’re comparing Volvo’s
standard I-Shift automated
transmission system against an
I-Shift Dual Clutch, and our
previous drive axle ratio of 2.64:
against the latest 2.50:1 ratio,”
said Paul Hawkins, MD, Hawkins
Logistics in Brereton. “Our three
new FH tractor units all feature
Globetrotter XL Cabs, D13K
engines rated at 500 bhp and 6x
pusher axle chassis.”
Supplied by Hartshorne Motor
Services, the new trucks were also
ordered with four-year Volvo Gold
Service Contracts which
guarantee 100 per cent uptime.
“Every new Volvo we have
purchased since late 2015 has
been on a Gold Service Contract,
as we have a zero downtime
policy,” Hawkins said.NEWS IN BRIEF
Oakley lightens up
Hereford-based operator Arthur
Oakley Transport Ltd reckons it is
benefiting from increased payloads
since adding a Krone Coil Liner
curtainsider to its HGV fleet.
Weighing in at more than 500 kg
lighter than similar trailers, the Coil
Liner comes with Krone’s Multi-Lock
secure-loading system, adaptable
floor wells and a sliding roof. “With
this Coil Liner we can carry a variety
of loads,” said transport manager,
Steve Underwood. “For example,
steel coils one way and, with up to
0.75 tonnes payload advantage, 28
tonnes of seed spuds in another.
Add to that the multi-lock system
with strapping points every 10 cm
along each side rave, plus loading
through the roof, and we get quicker
turn-round, secure loading and a
faster return on investment.”Coil
Liner is manufactured to Code XL
European standard, and the
powder-coat paint finish comes with
a 10-year guarantee against
corrosion perforation. “This is a
high-quality trailer,” Underwood
added. “Hard-working and fully
expected to go the distance.” Arthur
Oakley Transport is a Platinum
member of the UK Palletways
network and part of online
freight-exchange service,
returnloads.net.Tracing success
Kent-based haulier Kelly International
has bought six new Schmitz
Cargobull curtainsiders fitted with the
manufacturer’s trailer telematics
system to help increase uptime and
traceability. The latest arrivals
incorporate TrailerConnect, which
provides real-time location and
component condition monitoring. The
system proactively alerts operators
when maintenance may be required,
and helps protect the payload by
sending security warnings to the
driver and fleet manager by SMS or
email when unauthorised activity is
detected. “TrailerConnect will help us
make informed fleet maintenance
decisions and maximise our uptime,”
said Martin Kelly, MD, Kelly
International. “And by tracking our
trailers in real-time, we’re also able to
keep our customers updated on
delivery progress and security which
gives them complete peace of mind.”of types from our 60-strong group
of trailers.”
Hawkins Logistics has a good
percentage of long serving
drivers, who are usually away all
week. “To recognise this loyalty
we always spec up the interiors
with leather trim, fridge/freezers,
microwave ovens and televisions,”
Hawkins added.
“Driver feedback on the FH is
also good. For the trial we’ll use
Dynafleet to compare all the data
and the results will decide on our
future truck specifications.”Two of the three new trucks
feature flag-style red striping
against contrasting white and
black cab base colours, while the
third comes in Volvo’s FH 25-Year
Special Edition livery.
“Volvos make up around 80 per
cent of our fleet and we’ve put six
additional vehicles into service
during the last six months,”
Hawkins said. “Our fleet size has
doubled in the last two years and
our goal with these new
purchases is a four-year retention
period. The FHs will haul a mixtureBODYBUILDER SPECS MERCS FOR TOUGH
ROAD EXCAVATING OPS
FH TRIO ON MIXED-SPEC
TRIAL AT HAWKINS
bogies and rear-steer axles. The
result is a tighter turning circle than
a standard construction eight-
wheeler, and better
manoeuvrability. The 6x2/4 Econic
is also equipped with a rear-steer
axle for access to tight locations.
The first Arocs, a left-hand drive
version, is now in service with
suction excavation specialist
Vac-Ex, of Doncaster. It is also due
to receive another two identical
trucks before the end of the year.
The remaining four Arocs have
all been specified in right-hand
drive form for use by a prominent
multinational infrastructure group. The Econic has been built for
another specialist operator of
suction excavation equipment,
based in Chesterfield. This
company said it chose the
low-entry chassis for its Direct
Vision safety credentials.
The Arocs supplied to MTS
employ 12.8-litre, 510 bhp
engines and PowerShift
automated transmissions.
“We are client-led when it
comes to vehicle marque, and
this is the first time we’ve
sourced Mercedes-Benz chassis
here in the UK, rather than from
Germany,” said the bodybuilder’s
UK MD, Russell Fairhurst.
Vehicles built by MTS Suction
Systems typically cost between
£350,000 and £400,000 apiece,
so are high-value investments.
Despite this, the growth over
recent years in the use of fibre
optics and other underground
services mean the company’s
vacuum excavators are
becoming an increasingly
popular alternative to traditional
machinery such as mini-diggers,
and even shovels.E
ly-based bodybuilder
MTS Suction Systems UK
is spec’ing up seven
32-tonne Arocs 3251 ENAs
and a single 26-tonne Econic
2635 L ENA from Orwell Truck
& Van’s Newmarket branch for
the job of excavating roads
and footpaths.
The trucks are being fitted
with high-performance bodies
and ancillary equipment at MTS
Suction Systems’ production
facility in Germersheim,
southern Germany.
The 8x4/4 Arocs have single
front steer axles, double-driveOperator is testing various specs on its new
trucks to inform future buying decisionsThe new trucks are the
first Mercs MTS has
sourced from the UK