The new units hold 12% more than the operator’s existing double-deck trailers, and it anticipates the trailers will enable it to reduce mileage by up to 1.5 million miles per year.
The bespoke design incorporates an aluminium roof with LED lighting instead of a traditional plastic top panel, which can crack and lead to higher internal temperatures. Instead of being formed of plywood and thin plastic, the new side panels are constructed from a high-density polythene (HDPE) foam core, a hot dipped galvanised steel skin, and polyester baked paint.
The trailers will be operating out of Hermes’ fully-automated hubs in Warrington and Rugby. The new units are also designed to be ferry safe, so don’t need to be hooked to a tractor for stability.
Jon Ormond, operations director for hubs and depots at Hermes, says: “After extensive research exploring the best type of trailer for a number of our most travelled routes, we opted to modernise our fleet with a bespoke model from Don-Bur, the leaders in this field.
“Our team worked closely with theirs in true partnership and the result is leading edge designed trailers with unrivalled safety features, and which look fantastic on the roads.”
Hermes has also become the first UK delivery company to acquire compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles - IVECO Stralis NPs - reducing CO2 emissions by 80% against a comparable diesel Euro 6 vehicle.