Bevan Group has supplied curtain-sided bodies to windows and doors company Senior Architectural Systems (SAS) for its distribution fleet.
The Doncaster-based firm has replaced its previous vehicles with seven Mercedes-Benz Actros 18-tonners supplied by Northside Truck and Van, two of which pull drawbar trailers at gross train weights of up to 36 tonnes. The curtainsiders are in three lengths: 9.2m for the trucks that work solo, 7.7m for the two drawbar prime movers, and 7.4m for their twin centre-axled trailers.
Five of the new trucks are Actros 1827 models with 272hp engines while the two drawbar units are 1835s with more powerful, 354hp versions of the same 7.7-litre straight-six engine. They all have StreamSpace sleeper cabs and are under a Mercedes-Benz Financial Services contract hire agreement.
The trucks deliver aluminium extrusions at various lengths, but typically 6.1m, along with palletised accessories, to fabricators nationwide, while the drawbar rigs also trunk product twice a week to the company’s bases in Livingston and Newport. Supertrucks - manufacturer of bodies and racking systems for the glass and glazing sector, which was acquired by the Bevan Group in 2014 - built the bodywork at its St Helens factory.
Transport manager Megan Hughes said back-up provided by Bevan’s Aftercare division was also an important factor in SAS’s decision. “Our previous bodybuilder went bust shortly after we took delivery of the last batch of vehicles, which left us without after sales support”, she said.
“We were particularly vigilant, therefore, when we came to select a supplier this time round. These are still early days, of course, but it’s clear to see that our new curtainsiders are built to a much higher standard than those they have replaced.
“We’ve had a couple of minor teething problems, which can happen with any new vehicles, Bevan jumped on them straight away and they were quickly resolved, which is very reassuring.”
