Iveco lands full range deal with airfreight specialist Transtex

Harmondsworth-based airfreight specialist Transtex is in the process of taking delivery of six new vehicles from Iveco dealer Hendy Van and Truck. Spread across Iveco’s full product line-up, from 3.5 to 44 tonnes, it marks a significant investment in new vehicles and sees the delivery of the first 26 tonne rigid into the fleet.

The order includes three 44-tonne Stralis Active Space Super³ 6x2 twin-steer tractor units (AS440S45TX/P), each benefiting from Iveco’s premium ‘big cab’ which sets new standards of comfort for long-distance drivers. They are joined by a 26 tonne Stralis 6x2 curtainside rigid with a lifting tag axle (AT260S33YPS) and an 18 tonne Eurocargo 4x2 curtainside rigid (180E25S), both of which feature specialist Transload bodywork which enables pallets to be moved directly from airfreight terminals onto the trucks.

Completing the delivery is a Daily 35C15 chassis cab with rear air-suspension and Luton bodywork. Designed primarily for transporting high-value goods such as IT equipment, the Daily’s air-suspension ensures maximum load protection whilst the vehicle’s exceptional manoeuvrability permits deliveries to be made in even the most congested and restricted urban environments.

Commenting on the delivery, Mark Savill, Managing Director of Transtex, explains: “The new Iveco fleet will ensure we can continue to meet demand for our services, which has risen as a result of more of our customers’ goods arriving in the UK by air. The specialist bodywork mounted to the Eurocargo and Stralis rigids will also further improve health and safety standards as the pallets can be loaded directly from the aircraft onto our vehicles. This also speeds up the processing time and enables goods to reach their destination even quicker.

“One of the primary reasons for selecting Iveco for this latest fleet order was the strength of the engine line-up across each of the models, both in terms of overall performance and fuel economy. The availability of Euro 5 engines in the Stralis also means we are saving an additional £500 per year per vehicle in Vehicle Excise Duty,” he adds.

Each of the vehicles will be driven by drivers with Level 4 security clearance and will regularly operate airside at Heathrow airport, collecting aircraft pallets for onward transportation to destinations across the UK. Like all vehicles in the Transtex fleet, they will be available for operation 24 hours day, seven days a week, with this latest delivery increasing Iveco’s penetration in the fleet to 25 per cent.

Supplied by Hendy Truck & Van on a five year Iveco Capital contract hire agreement, the deal incorporates a Costcare repair and maintenance package which enables the vehicles to be serviced and maintained across Iveco’s nationwide dealer network. As part of the order, Iveco has also added the shade of green used in Transtex’s corporate livery to the selection of colours that are available to factory order on new models.

Transtex has a wealth of experience in road transport, freight forwarding and airfreight procedure and offers a full range of services including express haulage, airfreight distribution, same day couriers, computer transport, sea container deliveries, specialist logistics, hiab and lowloader services, warehouse and handling facilities, together with access to one of the UK’s largest overnight pallet networks.