Specialist car distributor Driveforce UK has added twelve new Euro 3 Iveco Stralis 430 transporters to its fleet based at Sharpness Dock on the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire.
Managing director Gary Chapman negotiated directly with Iveco at Watford and says the deal was clinched by "a good price". The dealer is Hendy.
Driveforce's early fuel returns from the Cursor 10.3-litre Stralis tractors indicate a consumption of around 8mpg, some 9% better than Volvos in the fleet, though
Chapman points out that the wind drag factor on a transporter rig carrying up to 12 cars at a time makes fuel economy rather unpredictable.
The Stralis chassis have standard 3.8m tractor unit wheelbases, adapted for drawbar operation and carrying a double deck structure that matches that of the trailer. The bodywork/trailer order was split between Transport Engineering and Rolfo.
A car can be carried above the cab within an acceptable bridge clearance height, thanks to Iveco's optional low cab mounting, front axle air suspension and low-profile Michelin 385/65 22.5 wide-single steer-axle tyres, which provide an essential 8-tonne front axle capacity.
Chapman says Driveforce's fleet strength of 22 vehicles is "about right" and has been fairly stable for the past four years. "We are content with our present work volume, moving up to 1,000 cars a week, all over the UK. We wouldn't want to run more than, say, 25 transporters."
One of the new Stralis-hauled
rigs has fully-enclosed bodywork able to carry up to five prototype or pre-launch model cars.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
