Securicor saves with more cube
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by Bryan Jarvis • Four new Cartwright doubledecked semi-trailers are expected to provide Securicor Omega Express with substantial cost and energy savings on dedicated parcels delivery between six UK depots.
"Each one has a capacity in excess of 112m3," says Alan Hines, managing director for Omega's fleet management operation, "which equates to 1.5 times that of the standard trailer that it replaces." The stepped 13.6m trailers have an 8.0m wheelbase and a slightly wider 2.15m track and run on tandem Mentor disc-braked axles.
In addition to Haldex Grau's Modal One Plus ABS with Info Centre and its Colas-controlled air suspension, Omega Express has opted for fully rated Continental 385/65R wide single tyres on 19,5in rims. The full-length top deck moves on four columns while the llm lower floor stops short of the neck section.
Parcels are fed into the trailer by a conveyor arm. There is a shuttered rear end in place of a tail-lift. Controls for the moving deck, air suspension and interior lights are all positioned on the outside of the trailer.
Hines is satisfied that the layout maximises lower deck rapacity while giving good stability. Other features include a Croft Backstop reversing safety device, removable hydraulic power pack in the neck section and external access to all service components.
The quartet under evaluation joins 58 other disc-braked semitrailers in the fleet, so Omega Express is clearly satisfied with the maintenance and long-term reliability that discs promise.