Long-life truck for Shorts
27 May 2021
Numerous characteristics to facilitate the loading of machinery have been incorporated on a new Andover Trailers plant body that the Shorts Group will use in its plant hire activity.
Matthew Campling, Shorts’ commercial director, said: “We were originally looking to replace our 10-year-old, 18-tonne DAF, but after a bit of tender loving care and a re-boarded deck it was just like having a new body, so we’ve taken the latest delivery as an addition to the fleet.”
The new vehicle is mounted to a 32-tonne 8x2 Scania chassis and has a low-profile deck. This is achieved by engineering the cross members to transect the body runners, rather than simply sitting on top.
The plant body also has a double crank beavertail, connected to a pair of 2.5m long, hydraulic power toe, knife-edged ramps. This creates a shallower load angle, increasing the variety of plant that can be carried.
In addition, ten pairs of lashing points are incorporated on the deck, together with a full working at height safety system and LED lighting.
Shorts Group’s two main plant hire depots are in Milford and Ascot, serving customers across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and surrounding counties. The company expects its new Scania to stay in operation for at least ten years.
