Tiger developed the 15.6m stepframe double-deck box van trailers with Howard Tenens and Toolstation to meet specific requirements.
The design includes a three-quarter length hydraulic moving deck rated to seven tonnes, with a fixed deck over the stepframe to house plastic piping and other abnormal loads, providing a dedicated area for products that previously would have taken up valuable cage space.
The LSTs can accommodate up to 87 cages – 38 on both decks, with an additional 11 on the neck of the trailer.
Each trailer also includes an on-board weighing device, a self-tracking rear axle and an aerodynamic sloping front roof.
The order came after a successful trial of a standard double-deck trailer for Toolstation’s fleet. “The improvements in efficiency were notable, but since then the company has gone from strength to strength and the additional capacity of the LSTs became increasingly appealing,” says Richard Philpotts, national fleet and compliance manager at Howard Tenens.
“We knew the spec had to be perfect to get the full benefit of the 15.6m length, and following a detailed design consultation, Tiger worked relentlessly to find the perfect double-deck solution. These new trailers are proving really versatile – combining the ability to carry a diverse payload, with an increased number of cages.”
Howard Tenens operates a mixed 40-strong commercial vehicle fleet for its Toolstation contract, including 25 standard trailers and three LSTs. The new additions are expected to stay in operation for seven years and will be on the road five days a week, averaging 180,000km a year.