Draper Distribution's commercial vehicle fleet now has an eighth Iveco Stralis 26-tonne rigid that is probably one of the most flexible machines of its kind in the country.
This is a truck with a difference: for example it features a curtainside body, Ratcliffe tail-lift, a sliding roof and rear-steer.
Peter Draper, managing director of Draper Distribution, says that engineering challenges faced included allowing the sliding roof mechanism to be mounted at the front of the body, thereby eliminating the roof bar at the rear, and also allowing cranes to swing into the vehicle when loading.
This configuration required extra rigidity to be built into the body in order for the tail lift to be properly mounted. On top of that, careful specification of the roof was vital to make loading and unloading procedures easier and more efficient for crane operators.
"Factor in the Stralis' excellent payload and manoeuvrability and it's probably the most multifunctional vehicle of its type in the UK," says Draper.
"It's a prime example of precision engineering and allows us to operate an incredibly versatile 26-tonne rigid that can be loaded by forklift truck as normal, but with the added flexibility of being able to be unloaded by crane on building sites," he adds.
Draper Distribution has operated a 100% Stralis fleet since the company started trading two years ago. This new truck is expected to be operational six days a week, accumulating 120,000km per year.
