Nine more multi-role Cargobulls for Cranleigh Freight Services 04 May 2010

As part of an ongoing programme of investment in its vehicle fleet, Cranleigh Freight Services (CFS) has ordered nine new curtainsider semi-trailers from Schmitz Cargobull.

CFS operates a mixed fleet of more than 40 trailers, which the company uses to provide transport services to Europe as well as UK-wide pallet distribution.

Transport manager Tim Munro explains that the latest additions have been adapted to cope with growth in the company's air-cargo business, so have been fitted with Hydraroll pneumatic roller tracks – a product developed for the movement of airfreight containers on and off trailers.

The rolling beds of the track system are raised above the trailer floor by a low pressure air supply. Air cargo will be loaded through the back doors of the trailers onto the wheels of the Hydraroll rolling beds and rolled into the trailer. When loading or unloading is complete the air supply is switched off and the roller beds slowly drop down to below the level of the surrounding floor.

Munro says that when carrying palletised loads, the roller track remains deactivated, allowing pallets to be loaded and unloaded along the side of the trailer by forklift truck or through the back doors by pallet truck, as usual. CFS has also gone for sliding roves, which enable long or other awkwardly shaped cargo to be loaded by crane from above.

"While we shuttle a lot of air cargo between airports, our broad customer base means the trailers need to be able to cope with a variety of different loads," comments Munro.

"The ability to load and unload through the sides, back doors and roof means there is virtually no limit to what we can carry with our new trailers," he adds.

The fleet was partly financed through Cargobull Finance ¬– a joint venture between Schmitz Cargobull and De Lage Landen. "We had a number of finance options open to us but the Cargobull Finance package was the most competitive," states Munro.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) Ltd

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