SCUDS service
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A NEW SERVICE, known as SCIDS (small container intermodal distribution system) announced by Freightliners Ltd last week, utilises minicontainers which are 8ft long and 6ft 7in wide designed to travel sideways on the rail trunk haul. The containers are locked in sets of three on to a steel pallet which has fold-up legs. The pallet occupies the same total length on the rail wagon as one 20ft container.
With legs lowered, the pallet is demountable from the ferry vehicle and stands free to await loading. The containers act as removable vehicle bodies; become, in effect, containers for rail trunk hauls, and serve as temporary storage "warehouses," making possible depot-less distribution
from producer to retailer.
New equipment has been designed and developed using demountable bodies of nonISO lengths purpose-built for individual customers' requirements. The unit of movement becomes the body of the
ultimate delivery vehicle, loaded in drop order and ready for the delivery driver to make a quick start to his day's work.