Demonstrator trial clinches Stralis deal with Earl Transport

Earl Transport of Accrington has taken delivery of a new Iveco Stralis Active Space Super³ tractor unit after trialing a demonstrator supplied by Preston-based Iveco dealer Walton Summit Truck Centre.

The new vehicle marks the first Iveco heavy truck to join the company’s 25-strong fleet in nearly six years and follows the impressive performance of the demonstrator throughout its week long road test.

Peter Hughes, Managing Director of Earl Transport, explains: “We had fantastic feedback from our drivers after spending time in the Stralis and it received a resounding ‘thumbs-up’. They found the cab extremely comfortable and ideal for nights away, with much praise for the automated EuroTronic gearbox and ease of shifting up and down via the controls mounted on the steering column stalk.

“I also drove the Stralis myself on a run and came away very impressed, particularly with the comfortable driving position and good all-round visibility from the cab. Averaged out across the week the demonstrator returned a very competitive 9.2 mpg, which is particularly remarkable since it was only a week old and had just two thousand kilometers on the clock,” he adds.

The arrival of the Stralis 6x2 twin-steer tractor (AS440S50TX/P) makes it the most powerful tractor unit in the Earl Transport fleet, thanks to Iveco’s 12.9 litre Cursor 13 engine, which is capable of producing up to 500 hp between 1,525 and 1,900 rev/min and up to 2,300 Nm of torque between 1,000 and 1,525 rev/min.

Like all Stralis AS Super³ tractor units, this vehicle features a three-piece lower bunk (746 x 2,020mm) incorporating a seating area, passenger ‘comfort’ seat with inertia reel belt and a fold-away central table, providing the ideal space for drivers to work, relax and sleep. The generous upper bunk (784 x 1,940mm) can be opened quickly thanks to a new folding mechanism and is reached by a retractable aluminium ladder. A control panel incorporating a 12V socket and an alarm clock ensures the driver can operate the interior lights and roof vent from the upper bunk.

Other standard interior cab features include air-conditioning, Eberspacher night heater, slide-out fridge, door roller blinds and an electrically operated windscreen blind. This is combined with smart black curtains to enclose the entire cab area during rest periods, which match the stylish new Alfa-Tec interior - a unique microfibre fabric that combines comfort, practicality and style, whilst ensuring excellent durability.

Supplied on a three year full service contract hire agreement through Iveco Finance, the Stralis is plated to 44 tonnes and will operate with a range of curtainside trailers. It is expected to be used for general distribution across the UK six days a week.