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Stockport based Robert Walker Haulage Ltd, the UK’s largest independent transporters of mechanical handling equipment and associated plant, has ordered four new curtainsider step frame trailers from Cartwright.
The forklift truck specialist, which delivers equipment for all the major fork lift manufacturers throughout the UK and Southern Ireland, is a family run business which was first established in 1935 when the founder Robert Walker serviced local market gardeners and was incorporated in 1958.
It currently operates a fleet of 35 tractor units and about 40 trailers focusing on spot hire and casual hire as its core business. In addition to its main centre at Woodley, Stockport, it also has satellite sites in Basingstoke, Birmingham, Hull, Newcastle, Castleford and Wigan.
As well as having a well-deserved market leading reputation for the transportation of fork lift trucks and ancillary machinery, the company is also famous for transporting Donald Campbell’s world famous ‘Bluebird’ car in 1965. It still retains links with the Bluebird project to this day.
Robert Walker Haulage is a long standing customer of Cartwright, originally approaching Cartwright 50 years ago to design a trailer to meet their specialist needs.
The specialist order from Robert Walker includes a number of special features.
At the back of the trailers, the rear part opens out in order to accommodate fork lift trucks up to 8 feet wide.
The beaver tail at the rear slopes down gradually and attached is a double folding hydraulic double ramp designed to achieve a 6.5 degree maximum loading.
A heavy duty winch in the bulkhead is included at the front as occasionally the machinery being loaded cannot power itself, for example if broken down.
A sliding roof facilitates the loading of tall masted fork lift trucks. The company can move any type of mechanical handling equipment up to 25 tonnes.
The trailer is meshed throughout and decking is included.
At the rear of the trailer, swing out corner pillars enable the loading of fork lift trucks up to 2.5 metres wide due to the increase in aperture width.
Neil Walker, Managing Director of Robert Walker Haulage added: “Our relationship with Cartwright is extremely good and goes back for over half a century. Indeed the bulk of our trailer fleet are Cartwright built.
“Their after sales service is excellent which is not always the case with a lot of trailer manufacturers. We have always found them very attentive and their provision of parts is also excellent.
“Obviously the fact that they are locally based to us is a bonus as if we need any modifications or anything repairing we are very close.
“We have a specialist requirement and they have met our needs for many years. “
