TruckandTrackAutumn2019

www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2019 Truck and Track 51 TRAILERS Synergy Hire – a new plant hire company operating out of Letchworth – has taken delivery of its first brand new 32-tonne truck, featuring a bespoke-built plant body from Andover Trailers. The new 8x2 Volvo FM450 rigid joins two similar used trucks in the Synergy Hire fleet, which were specifically chosen because they too came complete with Andover bodies. John Fitzpatrick, Director at Synergy Hire, says: “Though we’re a new business, the team we have in place are certainly not new to the industry. Collectively we’ve got decades of experience, so to ensure total confidence in the reliability of the vehicles we brought in from the outset, we knew Andover Trailers was the only option – putting it simply, their bodies just don’t break. “I’ve been specifying Andover builds for more than 20 years, so I was never going to look anywhere else. The build quality is so good that when it comes to selling these assets on in years to come, the bodies will likely be worth more than the trucks they’re sitting on.” The new plant body includes a double crank beavertail connected to a pair of 3.3m long hydraulic power toe, knife-edged ramps, built with Andover’s pioneering fold-forward design. These help to reduce drag and deliver impressive fuel savings, allowing Synergy Hire to reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet. Precision designed to each specific chassis, the new body features Andover Trailers’ trademark low-profile deck, which is achieved by engineering the crossmembers to transect the body runners, rather than simply sitting on top. The new truck also benefits from a full working at height system, as well as an electric winch rated to six tonnes to aid loading and unloading. Eight pairs of lashing points on the deck ensure maximum load security and flexibility. “We’re looking to quickly establish ourselves and plans are in place to open four new depots across the country. Each new site will have three or four rigids in its fleet and because we need to ensure that we have the right tools for the job in place, we’ll be specifying Andover bodies for all of them,” adds Fitzpatrick. The new vehicle will remain in operation for around seven years and will deliver plant to sites across the country six days a week, clocking up around 200,000 kilometres per year. Dublin-based Dixon International Transport has refreshed 10 per cent of its trailer fleet by investing in 30 new Schmitz Cargobull tri-axle reefers, for use on its hygiene-critical contracts. The new trailers were selected for their low lifetime operating costs and build quality, and will deliver drinks, fresh food produce and pharmaceuticals to customers both in the UK and Ireland. GlenMorgan, Fleet Manager at Dixon International Transport, says: “Schmitz Cargobull trailers offer real value for money, especially as we’re able to tailor the specification at the point of build to perfectly suit our customers’ needs. “The trailer’s overall build quality is fantastic too, so we know they will hold their residual value for many years. We’ve been using Schmitz Cargobull trailers for more than a decade and rarely, if ever, need to take them off the road for any kind of major repair work. The aftersales support we get is also excellent, so we benefit from dedicated assistance whenever we need it.” Each reefer is a like-for-like replacement of an older Schmitz Cargobull model and joins the customer’s 300-strong trailer fleet. They all incorporate Schmitz Cargobull’s FERROPLAST® side panels for added durability and strength, which are stronger than standard glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and less likely to suffer any cosmetic damage. Dynamic Ramp Protection (DRP) rollers have been fitted to the bottom of the rear doors to help increase uptime, by absorbing any low-speed impacts when reversing into loading bays. The latest additions also feature a new non-slip multi-function floor and longitudinal ribs, which allows the interior to be cleaned to pharmaceutical hygiene standards in less than 10 minutes. This makes them ideal for Dixon International Transport’s fleet, where a trailer can be carrying fresh produce in the morning and then loading with pharmaceuticals in the afternoon. The company also benefits from the peace of mind in knowing it has access to Schmitz Cargobull’s pan-European network of 1,700 authorised service workshops – perfect for supporting one of Ireland’s largest continental hauliers. New Schmitz Cargobull Reefers provide cool savings for Dixon International Transport New Andover Trailers plant body - a perfect match for Synergy Hire TAILOR MADE VEHICLE & TRAILER SOLUTIONS 01543 420 121 www. deker .co.uk