Supplied by dealer Walton Summit Truck Centre, the St Helens-based operator’s new additions are 26-tonne 6x2 Hi-Street rigids, both with a plant body, an Atlas 165.2A2 crane, and a lifting and rear-steering axle, providing increased manoeuvrability for deliveries in urban areas.
The first vehicle has gone into service; the second is due for delivery in December. Both are supplied on five-year Iveco Elements R&M packages.
The trucks are powered by Iveco’s Cursor 9 engine, featuring Iveco’s HI-SCR technology and producing up to 310bhp between 1,675 and 2,400 rpm, and up to 1,300 Nm of torque between 1,200 and 1,675 rpm. The vehicles also feature the EuroTronic fully-automated gearbox, manufactured for Iveco by ZF.
“We first decided to trial an Iveco in 2014, after speaking to another operator that recommended the Hi-Street for our line of work,” says managing director Stephen Phillips.
“We took on a similar 26-tonne rigid from another manufacturer at the same time, and found the Iveco quickly surpassing its competitor in terms of on-the-job reliability. The drivers love the truck, and we’re completely satisfied – the Hi-Street is ideal.”
Payload is a bonus, he adds: “The 18.8-tonne capacity is very competitive, given our body and crane combination. It means we can collect from our suppliers just once per day in the morning, and spend the rest of the day delivering what our customers ordered.”
The Stralis trucks join a fleet of nine 26-tonne rigids, and will be in operation six days per week. The vehicles are expected to clock up 50,000 miles per annum and will be in operation for between five and seven years.
