Page 32 - CTB n2 - 2013/2

CONTRACT WINS
TruckForce Wins Tap Freight Contract
TruckForce has announced that it has successfully secured the servicing contract for the Barnsley based freight and distribution company, TapFreight Ltd. The deal will see TruckForce, which has 15 hubs across the country, service 43 vehicles and 54 trailers.
Mick Tasker, Fleet Manager at Tap Freight, who specialise in hazardous freight services,
said: “TruckForce developed a package that meets our specific needs and supports us as a business. The FOS system that we will now use was a major selling point as it will provide us with complete and instant information, helping us to identify and prevent problems before they occur and therefore limiting the unnecessary overspend on both fuel and tyres”.
Solstor Looks to Vacu-Lug for Carbon Reduction
Bartrums Warehousing and Distribution has taken delivery of 10 Wilcox 70 cubic yard plank sided tipping trailers, all ordered with GT Radial GT876 tyres as original equipment.
The move follows a two-year tyre test programme in which various GT Radial patterns were subjected to comparative testing across different vehicle types and wheel positions, the performance results of which saw the brand classed as main supplier to the entire fleet.
Operating over 400 motives and trailers, the Suffolk-based transport company specialises in haulage, warehousing and distribution for blue chip companies requiring full and part load distribution throughout the UK.
With a clear focus on maximising economy and performance, Bartrums has made significant investment in new vehicles including 10 Mercedes 6x2 mid-lift Actros 2545s which feature the latest in telematics technology. Vehicles are
maintained by in-house maintenance and repair centre, Trumbar Truck Care.
The GT Radial GT876 is a mixed service, M+S marked tyre for steer and trailer axle positions. Designed for on and off road applications with higher loads, a wide base, extra deep tread design with anti-cut compound and stone ejectors minimises tread tearing and casing damage while providing exceptional traction.
David Reid, Transport Fleet Engineer for Bartrums, said: “In October 2010 we entered into a stringent tyre test programme with GT Radial to benchmark the product range against premium brands, and the overall performance and price per kilometre from the mid-tier range was exceptional.
“Over the last two years the day- to-day operations and savings have completely justified our decision, and as such we are more than happy to request the GT876 as OE for our new Wilcox trailer fleet.”
service levels are unaffected." Since embarking upon its new tyre policies, more than 350 Vacu- Lug Duramold super-single tyres have been fitted to the Solstor trailer fleet, representing a saving of 54.2 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions per tyre. This figure equates to the reduced amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the remould manufacturing process compared to that of a new tyre.
To emphasise the environmental benefits of its new tyre policies, a proportion of the Vacu-Lug Duramold remould tyres fitted to the Solstor fleet are made from a green coloured compound developed by Vacu-Lug. This compound has a lower rolling resistance than regular tyres and therefore contributes further towards carbon reduction.
The green tyres have been manufactured using a specially- formulated compound which replaces the traditional carbon
area, which significantly improves the tyres' rolling resistance by up to 30 percent.
The tread surface of the high-silica compound is harder and microscopically rougher than regular carbon black-
based compound and, as a result, increases surface grip.
Less movement in the tread means there is less heat build-up, thereby prolonging tyre life.
The harder compound theoretically improves the wear characteristics of the tyre over a period of time.
The silica-based compound shows a much improved snow and ice behaviour and better wet skid properties, with abrasion remaining constant.
Solstor UK Limited is part of the AG Thames Group. In addition to its Crayford Head Office site, the company has depots in Peterborough, and Boston, as well as operations in Spain, Italy and Poland providing a true pan- European, end-to-end solution. The firm's double-shifted fleet of 80 tractor units and 160 trailers is involved in the distribution of fresh and chilled produce to many leading UK supermarket retailers.
Crayford, Kent-based UK and international supply chain specialist, Solstor UK Limited has reported an overall reduction to date of almost 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since moving to a Vacu-Lug new and remould tyre policy for its tractor unit fleet and from a new-only policy to a Vacu-Lug remould policy on its trailer fleet last May. "Solstor is firmly committed to reducing its impact upon the environment, and we recognise the contribution being made in this respect to our operations by Vacu-Lug," says Andy
Hitchings, Operations Director for Solstor UK Limited. "Furthermore, in addition to benefiting the environment, the switch in our tyre policy is also proving financially successful while operational
black with a mix of silicas, resulting in a low-rolling resistance product which provides operational and environmental benefits. Independent trials conducted by TARCC (Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre, the UK- based research arm of the Malaysian Rubber Board) have proven the tyres to be more environmentally-efficient in a number of ways:
The silica-based compound is harder and tougher than a standard tyre, meaning there is less deformation in the crown
Bartrums Specify GT Radial on OE Trailer Order
Albert Bartlett (left), regional manager for Giti Tire UK with David Reid (right), fleet engineer for Bartrums Warehousing and Distribution.
32 Commercial Tyre Business