New long trucks enhance Craiss vehicle fleet

• Logistics specialist expands fleet to include three megaliners

• A greater load capacity makes every tenth journey redundant

• Reduces CO2 and fuel and means that fewer drivers are needed

 

Albert Craiss GmbH & Co. KG has expanded its fleet: from now on, three type 1 long trucks will increase the range of vehicles offered by the logistics service provider from Mühlacker. The trailers, which have been extended by 1.30 metres by the manufacturer Fliegl Trailer, have an additional capacity of ten cubic metres. Thanks to three extra pallet spaces, every tenth journey can be cut. In addition to lower fuel consumption, the Swabian company is also reducing CO2 emissions and the need for drivers. With their built-in blind spot assistant, reversing camera and digital axle load display, the long trucks are currently among the safest vehicles on Germany's roads.

"With the expansion of the fleet to include long trucks, we want to expand our service portfolio and further optimise our routes," says Torsten Kurfiß, Head of Transport and Truckload Shipping at Albert Craiss GmbH & Co. KG. The new vehicles have an increased trailer length of 14.90 metres. The additional 1.30 metres gives a total of 37 pallet spaces - three more than in a conventional megatrailer. "It will be the customer loading up the truck and commuting regularly between two loading and unloading stations who benefits most from our new acquisition", explains Kurfiß. For transporting 1,000 pallets, Craiss only needs to do 27 trips with a long truck instead of the previous 30. This means a ten percent reduction in the distance covered. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions decrease, road use is minimised, and the need for drivers is reduced at a time when there is an acute shortage of skilled workers The redistribution of the same maximum weight over several axles also reduces the point load on the road surface. From a purely technical point of view, the long truck with its reversing camera, the legally prescribed blind spot assistant and the digital axle load display is one of the safest vehicles currently on the market.

It is the legal situation alone that puts a damper on the oversized lorries' potential. The use of LHVs is permitted throughout most German states. In Baden-Württemberg, however, where Craiss has its head office, only a limited network of roads is available to them. "We could have provided numerous customers with the use of megaliners in this area alone, but we are not allowed to," says Kurfiß. "LHVs are everywhere now and their use must be approved on account of climate change, the shortage of drivers and the need to alleviate the pressure on Germany's infrastructure," he continues.