News from Cartwright: S&J European Haulage has found a solution to resolving its problem of deliveries to urban areas and city centres thanks to a specially designed Cartwright trailer.
The Melton Mowbray haulier, part of the Palletforce network, had been experiencing difficulties in urban areas getting around tight corners and accessing town and city centre high streets.
The Cartwright answer to the problem, working in tandem with S&J European Managing Director Steve Haines and Fleet Engineer Trevor Atkins, was to provide a tandem axle urban trailer with the unique feature of two steering axles, complete with a remote control unit which enables the driver to steer the axles from within his cab.
The axles were supplied by SAF and imported into the UK by Loughborough based IMS. The steering system was provided by Dutch company VSE and is acknowledged as a very versatile system.
Andy Jarvis, Cartwright’s Technical Sales Manager who worked closely with Trevor Atkins on the trailer specification, commented,
“S&J deliver into urban areas and need a ten metre body which they can’t get onto a rigid vehicle – but the new trailer which is very striking in Palletforce orange colours now has the versatility of getting around tight corners as it is articulated and the steering axles are working with it.
“Consequently they now have the body size they need and the manoeuvrability they require in urban areas,” he said.
S&J European Haulage is a recent customer of Cartwright and in addition to the specialist kit for this latest order, the company has recently ordered two standard tri axle 13.6m curtainsiders with a galvanised chassis and all bolted construction. A particular feature is the hand painted sign writing on the vehicle.
Trevor Atkins of S&J added, “Being a member of the PalletFORCE network we undertake a lot of deliveries, with a mix of products, to city centre precincts, industrial estates and small urban locations, and the new urban trailer from Cartwright is an ideal option for us.
“When we looked at the figures involved for putting on a second steer axle and the potential of what it could do, it was going to offer more manoeuvrability than a standard rigid vehicle. It would give us a really good option and we no longer had to worry where the vehicle went in terms of urban and city centre deliveries.
“After many years buying trailers from a European – based manufacturer I wanted to look at British trailer manufacturers. I was impressed by Cartwright’s galvanised chassis. They are a professional outfit and I liked their attitude. They are not frightened to try something new and take on a challenge.”
