Stralis Active Day tractors replace rigids for Hewden

Hewden, the number one equipment rental provider in the UK, has taken delivery of three new Stralis Active Day tractor units from Glasgow-based Iveco distributor Kerr & Smith.

The three Stralis AD440S36T/Ps are operating with 13m long King step frame trailers and replace three 26 tonne rigid vehicles The articulated combination offers the same manoeuvrability as a 6x2 rigid, combined with an increase in payload potential and a safer loading and unloading height for items of plant.

They are being used across Hewden’s nationwide network of 360 service delivery centres, which enable the company to provide rapid deployment of plant and equipment, transporting a diverse variety of loads ranging from telehandlers and self-propelled lifts to excavators and dumpers.

Frank McMahon, Group Transport Manager at Hewden, explains: “We selected the Stralis for this latest application based on the successful operation of our first Stralis, which joined the fleet nearly three years ago and has proved to be a true workhorse.

“The new vehicles will remain on the fleet for at least seven years, owing to their relatively low annual mileage of just 60,000 km a year,” he adds.

The Stralis Active Day is an exceptionally versatile vehicle that is well-suited to work in cities and suburban areas. It uses a short cab, with a well placed grab handle and good-sized steps permitting easy and safe accessibility - essential for this type of application where the driver is making regular delivery stops.

Like all Stralis models, the Active Day benefits from a EuroTronic gearbox as standard, which offers either fully, or semi-automated shifts – with the gear change controls incorporated into the dashboard and right-hand steering column stalk, offering good cab ergonomics and making gear changes easier for the driver.

The automated gearbox allows manual changes made in semi-automatic mode to be controlled via the steering column stalk, whilst the selection of automatic and semi-automatic modes, neutral, reverse and the low speed manoeuvring mode (forward and reverse) are controlled from three dash mounted buttons located to the left of the steering column.

Power is assured by Iveco's proven 7.8 litre Cursor engine (Euro 4), which develops up to 360 hp between 1,687 and 2,400 rev/min and up to 1,500 Nm of torque between 1,125 and 1,687 rev/min.