Big E buy by BOC
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• BOC Transhield, the major food distributor for high-street giants Marks and Spencer has, has placed a significant replacement order for 77 ERF `E' Series heavy trucks worth over 22.3 million.
The order — the first from BOC Transhield for ERF — is divided between 73, two-axle, EIO tractive units, powered by Cummins LTA-250 engines with Fuller gearboxes and Rockwell rear axles, and four, 6 x 2 drawbar chassis with air-suspension and raising rear axles.
The 6 x 2 rigids, plated at 22-tonnes GVW, are equipped with more powerful LTA10-290 power units, and will have 8.6m-long insulated box trailers. Although the drawbar combinations will run at the current maximum 32.5-tonnes GTW, they can be uprated for operation at 40-tonnes GTW, if legislation allows.
According to BOC Transhield's chief engineer (transport) Mike Heywood, the company reviewed a large number of tractive units, but opted for ERF as "the best package on specification, price and backup."
The Cummins/Fuller/ Rockwell driveline "has proved itself in our operation", claims Heywood who adds that "going for low specification trucks results in higher running costs for only a marginal saving in capital costs."
The 73 artic units have been downplated to 28 tonnes GCW, and will be used alongside the drawbar units on low-density fresh food, distribution work throughout the UK.
The latest order for the Sandbach-based truck builder is a fresh boost for its heavy truck sales which have gone up by some 47% since the beginning of this year.