S&J European Haulage has added new double deck, S.KO Express dry freight box trailers from Schmitz Cargobull to its fleet. The trailers are being used to transport adhesives between the UK and Belgium and the double-deck design allows over 60 pallets to be stored comfortably and enables certain fragile loads that are unsuitable for block stacking within a trailer to be carried two high.
The tri-axle trailers 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 fuel efficiency of around 2 miles per gallon," explains S&J's transport manager, Mark Turner.
"This may not sound hugely significant but in monetary terms it means cost efficiencies of 65 per trip per vehicle. The trailers are working seven days a week so that's a noteworthy saving," he adds.
The trailers, which are fitted with Michelin's X One MaxiTrailer tyres and finished in S&J European's distinctive livery, have been built using Schmitz Cargobull's patented weld-free bolted and galvanised production technique.
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