Greencarrier Freight Services has expanded its trailer fleet with the addition of 15 Profi Liner curtainsiders from Krone Trailers UK, on long-term lease from TIP Trailer Services.
According to managing director Chris Hunt, the firm continues to respond to strong demand and the new trailer equipment is expected to be fully utilised upon entering the vehicle fleet. “We run a busy, two-way operation between the UK and many other countries,” says Hunt, “and the trailers we use need to be able to cope with the rigorous demands of ferry work and intensive loading schedules.”
“The curtainsiders were chosen, in preference to other makes, for their loading flexibility and are mainly used for groupage and unaccompanied ro-ro ferry work from the UK to the Nordics and Eastern Europe” continues Hunt. “They carry general cargo, including palletised finished goods and outsized loads including timber.”
This, explains Hunt, is where the Krone sliding roofs and multi-lock side-raves (which have strapping points every 100mm along each side of the trailer) come into their own. The trailers are specified with 10 multi-positional post pockets in the floor centre and 10 pairs along the sides, which means Greencarrier can load virtually any cargo safely and securely along the entire trailer length. “Also, the curtains can be strapped from inside the trailer, which is a safety benefit and much appreciated by our drivers.”
The Profi Liners are also fitted with phenolic-coated plywood floors which meet the European load security certification, EN 12642 code XL.
New to this latest batch of Krone trailers is TIP’s BrakePlus EBPMS (electronic brake performance monitoring system) which enables Greencarrier to monitor the braking performance of the trailers in their fleet and provides an alternative to carrying out physical roller brake tests throughout the year.
“BrakePlus automatically monitors the braking system of each trailer,” explains Chris Hunt. “Using real-time telematics connectivity, it captures braking performance information from each trailer’s electronic braking mechanism and presents it to the fleet team in the form of a ‘braking performance value’ – which in turn, translates as a simple ‘pass’ or ‘fail’.”
The system also produces a periodic ‘braking performance report’ as part of the trailer’s service inspection record, which serves as evidence of the braking track-record of the trailer and helps ensure Green Carrier stays legal and compliant.
Hunt goes on to explain that the system provides email alerts when a braking system for a trailer begins to under-perform so that regular brake checks and their associated downtime are no longer required. “For a while now, the DVSA has considered EBPMS to be a valid means of assessing trailer braking performance, the output from which can be used as compliance evidence that forms part of our maintenance records,” he explains.
Maintenance for the trailers is provided by TIP Trailer Services, while emergency service, should it be required, is available from TIP’s own European support network, Roadside Assistance, which is on hand to provide 24 -hour breakdown recovery anywhere in Europe.