Scottish fleet switches to Iveco

Argyll-based Bonnar Sand & Gravel Co Ltd has taken delivery of an Iveco Trakker, fitted with a unique demountable body which allows the vehicle to operate as both a tipper and a mixer.

The Trakker marks a shift in the company’s commercial vehicle purchasing policy following the closure of Foden, and is expected to see the fleet steadily replaced with Iveco models in the coming years.

“We don’t mix our fleet and like to stick with one manufacturer,” explains Danny Bonnar, Managing Director of Bonnar Sand & Gravel Co. “We switched to Iveco after assessing all of the major manufacturers and finding the Trakker to be modern and ideally suited to our operation.”

Located at the head of Loch Fyne, near Inveraray, the company operates a fleet of 10 commercial vehicles and expects the Trakker AD340T35/P to cover approximately 35,000 miles a year.

It is fitted with a demountable body system built by D&B Bodyworks, with McPhee mixing equipment and a specification which includes rear air-suspension and an automated 12-speed EuroTronic gearbox.

Like all Trakker models, the vehicle benefits from a cab width of just 2.28m – helping to guarantee excellent manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

The Trakker is also fitted with an all-steel bumper, consisting of three sections, which helps to minimise replacement costs if damaged. The bottom section of the bumper has been rounded off to follow the front approach angle; when the vehicle is moving, the step used by the driver to clean the windscreen retracts into it. Also, the bottom step mounting is flexible and hingeless so in the event of a collision whilst manoeuvring, it simply bends and then returns it to its original position. For added protection, the headlamps are shielded by a removable grille.

Power is provided by Iveco’s 7.8 litre Cursor 8 engine, which is capable of producing 350 hp between 1,930 and 2,400 rev/min and up to 1,280 Nm of torque between 1,080 and 1,950 rev/min.