MHW Magazine News and stories from the Materials Handling Industry
S&J European Haulage has added three new Schmitz Cargobull curtainsider trailers to its fleet.
One of the new vehicles will be dedicated to work carried out by S&J for the Palletforce pallet network and has been liveried in the Palletforce colours.
"We have been a part of the Palletforce network for several years and felt that it would be good to have the Palletforce colours emblazoned on the vehicle. The new trailer will mostly be used for day time drops so people will certainly notice it! says S&J European’s manging director, Steve Haines.
S&J typically deliver around 80 pallets a day to Palletforce customers based around Leicester and Melton Mowbray and to ensure pallet loads are dropped with maximum efficiency the new trailer has been fitted with a tail lift.
In addition to the taillift which has been fitted to the Palletforce trailer, all three new vehicles have been specified with front and rear lifting axles which remain raised if the trailer is running below fully laden. Ordinarily, the trailers run on the single axle but built-in sensors prompt the front and/or rear axles to drop down as more weight is added. This feature ensures that the load is evenly distributed over the optimum number of axles and the equipment is compliant for both UK and European regulations when the trailers are on the road.
However, because the front and rear-lifting axles remain raised unless the weight of the load demands they are lowered, rolling resistance is dramatically reduced when lighter loads are in transit. As a result S&J European have noticed that they are making considerable fuel savings with the new trailers.
"Because we have seldom had to have all three axles down, rolling resistance has been minimised and we are achieving significant fuel efficiency benefits, as well as savings on tyre wear," says Steve Haines.
