Staffordshire-based bulk haulage business Ed Weetman (Haulage & Storage) has added its first Iveco heavy truck to its 30-strong fleet.
The Stralis Hi-Way 6x2 twin-steer tractor unit is powered by an EEV-rated FPT Industrial 10.3-litre Cursor 10 engine, which is capable of producing up to 460bhp between 1,550 and 2,100 rev/min, plus 2,100 Nm of torque between 1,050 and 1,550 rev/min.
Supplied by dealer Sherwood Truck & Van, the truck is being used to deliver road salt supplies to locations in Staffordshire, Norfolk and Northamptonshire, as well as agricultural feed, crops and quarry products across the UK.
Weetman's managing director, Richard Harvey, says: "We've never operated an Iveco before, but what tipped the balance was seeing the Stralis Hi-Way first-hand and meeting the manufacturer. Any preconceptions I had about Iveco were quickly put to rest.
"As a business we've focused on pretty much managing out empty-running and all of our artics operate at 44 tonnes, nearly all the time. This makes us a fuel-thirsty operation, but if the Stralis Hi-Way can deliver even a small improvement on fuel, then the real term benefit to our business will be significant."
Another key feature was the truck's payload, he adds. The Stralis matches or improves the payload of his other vehicles – crucial for a company being paid by the tonne. And the five-year Iveco Elements repair and maintenance contract is the "best in fleet", he says.
The Stralis Hi-Way also features Iveco's Driving Style Evaluation tool, which helps drivers to improve their on-road performance in real time and, as a result, to optimise their fuel efficiency.
