The six plant bodies replace older units, while the four drawbars are new additions to the company’s 40-strong mixed commercial vehicle fleet.
Operating out of Murphy’s Hemel Hempstead and Ollerton plant depots, the trucks and trailers will be on the road between five to six days per week, allowing them to supply plant to sites across the UK.
All six bespoke-built, low-profile plant bodies are mounted to new 32-tonne 8x2 Mercedes Arocs chassis, with four featuring a front-mounted PK63002E Palfinger crane. Each of the four tri-axle heavy duty drawbar trailers offers a range of loading solutions and are expected to help increase payload capacity.
The four front-mounted Palfinger cranes offer a 2,950 kg lift at a 15.7 metre reach. With the trailers offering an additional payload capacity of up to 18 tonnes, each combination is expected to carry a large range of plant, from 3-tonne dumpers through to 15-tonne telehandlers.
Each of the new plant bodies includes a hydraulic beavertail, underslung coupling and Andover’s fold-forward ramps, which combine to offer a flat load bed, providing deck space on the truck and trailer. When folded, the ramps also keep wind resistance to a minimum, which in turn helps to reduce fuel consumption.
The specialist ramps also allow the plant body to be through-loaded via the trailer without having to uncouple the two. This helps to reduce loading and unloading times.
The trucks, plant bodies and trailers have also been designed to meet the three-star rating for London’s Direct Vision Standard, including camera systems and audible turning alerts. They also feature a telescopic working at height system for maximum operator safety.
Mark Olden, logistics manager at Murphy said: “Andover Trailers listened to our requirements and provided high-spec solutions to deliver exactly what we needed. We chose Andover for the versatility and range of their drawbar combinations, and are very pleased with the quality of the workmanship on the builds we have received so far.”