New Stralis fleet ensures Low Emission Zone compliance for Hendricks Lovell

Hayes-based builders merchant Hendricks Lovell has taken delivery of four new Iveco Stralis Active Day rigids. The 26 tonners replace older vehicles in the fleet and will ensure the company can continue to enter the London Low Emission Zone without financial penalty.

The order includes three Stralis AD260S31Y/PS 6x4 rigids and one Stralis AD260S45Y/ PS 6x4 rigid which will operate with a drawbar trailer .  All four vehicles are mounted with a remote control Palfinger PK14001EH crane with a JSC grab and feature a steering rear axle, to aid manoeuvrability when operating on construction sites and in restricted urban areas.

It marks the first new vehicle deliveries of the year to a division of Grafton Merchanting GB, the fourth largest builders merchant in the UK, and follows total orders in 2011 which included 96 Dailys, 42 Eurocargos and 81 Stralis’.

Phil Alexander, Head of Transport at Grafton Merchanting GB, says: “The Stralis forms the backbone of our heavy truck fleet.  It’s the perfect 26 tonne rigid for delivering loads which can range from bricks and blocks to timber and jumbo bags of aggregate.  The rear-steering axle makes these particular models ideally suited to work within the M25.”

The new trucks will be in operation six days a week, making deliveries to building sites and private residences throughout Greater London and the Home Counties.  They each operate with a single driver and are expected to make up to 15 drops per day.

Both of the models supplied feature Euro-5 beating FPT Industrial engines, each certified to meet the stringent Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle (EEV) level.  Iveco is currently the only UK truck manufacturer to offer EEV engines as standard – a level which serves as a stepping stone between Euro 5 and Euro 6, with diesel particulates cut from 0.03 to 0.02 g/kWh.

The three Stralis AD260S31Y/PS are powered by 7.8 litre Cursor 8 engines, which are capable of producing 310 hp between 1,675 and 2,400 rev/min, and up to 1,300 Nm of torque between 1,200 and 1,675 rev/min. The Stralis AD260S45Y/PS drawbar vehicle features the larger 10.3 litre Cursor 10 engine, which produces 450 hp between 1,550 and 2,100 rev/min and up to 2,100 Nm of torque between 1,050 and 1,550 rev/min – ensuring plenty of power when operating a full load.

The Stralis AD is popular with builder’s merchants and construction companies as it is built specifically for short-haul transportation, whilst still allowing the driver to enjoy the same comfortable air-suspended seat as in the flagship Active Space (AS) range.