CM Product Innovation Daily Three by Motor Transport

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE / 30 APRIL 2020

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

CONTENTS 

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4 TECHNOPOLY ACCELERATOR

Show and tell

6 IVECO

Welcome to the third edition of the Commercial Motor Product Innovation Daily. This year’s Commercial Vehicle Show has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all of the news from the industry’s premier trade show. In three exciting innovation round-ups, you’ll learn about key product launches that would have taken place at the NEC. Sponsored by MAN Truck & Bus UK, the ‘Dailies’ will publish on 28, 29 and 30 April, which are the same days that the show would have taken place. We do hope these round-ups give you an exciting glimpse into the R&D taking place across industry and inspire you to try new technology on your own fleets.

8 BRIDGESTONE

CONTACT INFORMATION EDITORIAL Daily editor Hayley Pink Supplements production editor Joanne Betts CM editor Will Shiers CM Deputy editor George Barrow CM Group technical editor Colin Barnett Contributor Lucy Radley

DISPLAY ADVERTISING Sales director Emma Tyrer 07900 691137 Display sales executive Barnaby Goodman-Smith Key account manager Andrew Smith Sales manager Tim George

DIRECTORS Divisional director Vic Bunby Managing director Andy Salter

30 APRIL 2020 CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE

 CASE STUDY: TECHNOPOLY ACCELERATOR

Jack Richards goes digital with Accelerator When Jack Richards and Son first came to talk to the Technopoly Accelerator Fleet and Workshop Software team in 2016, it was using an old system to manage its fleet maintenance. This had proved slow and clunky, and needed a full manual paperwork system to back it up. The operator wanted to move to a digital future with a fully integrated system that would eliminate paper and streamline its workflow. It also had a plan to implement mobile working for technicians, drivers and workshop staff, to streamline their activities and avoid them having to re-key paper job sheets and inspections. On top of that, the company was looking to gain full digital DVSA Earned Recognition status.

DECISION TIME Accelerator was chosen for a number of reasons. Being one of the most comprehensive systems on the market, it offered a fully integrated set of modules and features in one proven system that would also link to Jack Richards’ accounts seamlessly for posting and financial information. It includes everything from document links, drivers’ information, workshop scheduling, and inspections to reminders scheduling, full stock control, and parts purchasing and invoicing. Direct support from the Accelerator

team was a key requirement for Jack Richards, along with an assurance that the system could be adapted as requirements changed and was fully future-proofed. Four years on, Jack Richards has a strong dynamic partnership with Accelerator, allowing it to access new developments and modules to achieve continuous improvements in efficiencies and reduced costs.

EXTRA FEATURES Accelerator has a range of optional add-in modules, such as equipment, plant hire, fixed price maintenance, recovery, ATF lanes, type approval, tyres, fuel import, haulage and web parts counter sales, and more recently Earned Recognition. Accelerator also caters for those customers that build, refurbish and service specialist vehicles, such as welfare vans and trailers, cranes, concrete mixers, special tankers, gritters, refuse vehicles, coaches, and forest vehicles. It even caters for ships. These specialist companies need a build desk that can set up standard build templates with all of the labour, parts and sub-contractor details. With just a few clicks they can then set up as many new vehicle builds as they wish, with all of the necessary parts allocation and ordering, together with the required type approval module records,

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

label tags and Certificates of Conformity. Accelerator has a complete parts inventory system with full warranty tracking. It includes normal stock parts, imprest stock, major warranty items tracking, a new and used tyres module, and unlimited locations and suppliers. Links to web ordering parts modules allow online part sales. The system also links to preferred parts suppliers such as Fleet Factors to directly download their parts issued data into Accelerator. As a fully accredited Sage developer, Accelerator provides integrated links to Sage for invoicing and supplier payments. It also provides links to other accounts packages as required.

GO MOBILE As more mobile working becomes the norm, the company has also launched its Go Mobile web portal. This offers customers the perfect paperless environment in which to see their vehicles’ details, service history, inspections and other data. Technicians can access their work either remotely from their service vans or in the workshop to fill in work completed and timesheets, as well as parts fitted and inspections. Vendors can be given access to enter inspections and job details directly into Accelerator. Drivers can do their checks and report defects before and during their daily work. They can also see the full vehicle history at the roadside in real time, should they be called upon to provide this. Whatever types of vehicles, equipment or other assets you run or maintain, Accelerator with Go Mobile can help you to go paperless and improve your business, backed up by fantastic support. For more information, call 0844 375 4315 or visit www.clever-accelerator.uk

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 NEWS

Iveco S-Way sets the bar high Iveco had chosen the CV Show for the official UK launch of its all-new S-Way range. The Stralis replacement, which is the first in a new series of trucks, makes use of an attractive new cab. Highlights include longer doors to cover the second step, new LED headlights and a one-piece side window. The S-Way’s cab is mounted slightly higher than that of the Stralis, too, which has allowed Iveco to increase the size of the external lockers. Specify them on both sides and you get 375 litres of storage. The multi-piece bumpers have integrated deflectors, which help to optimise airflow. Like the new aerodynamic kit and side skirts, they play a part in reducing the drag coefficient and making the tractor 4% more fuel-efficient than the Stralis. No doubt this will be improved further when Iveco swaps its newly designed mirrors for cameras, which we expect is just a matter of time. The S-Way’s interior represents a massive improvement over the Stralis, and the quality of plastics used is certainly better. The driver’s seat is new and

features a lowered base, which allows for an increase in cushion thickness, and 45mm more vertical movement. There is 20mm more legroom too, and by moving the ignition (a slot for an electronic key and a stop-start button) upwards, more leg space has been created. The new multi-function steering wheel, with its 22 switches, puts a lot of controls at the driver’s fingertips. Everything on the left is related to the infotainment, and everything on the right assists with driving. It’s squared off at the base, which should be welcomed by larger drivers. To the driver’s side is the optional fridge, with a convenient lid for accessing a bottle. The dashboard incorporates a 7in touch-screen infotainment system, with phone mirroring using Apple Car Play. It’s Bluetooth-equipped, has voice recognition and a dedicated truck navigation system. The driver can also use it to access the assistance services, as well as the Driving Style Evaluation tool. Lighting has been enhanced too, with LED dimmable ceiling lamps. They are activated by a rotary-controlled switch on

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

the upper shelf above the driver. The driveline is unchanged, which is no bad thing. Like the Stralis, the S-Way is available in both diesel and Natural Power gas 6x2 versions. Diesel engine options are 11-litre up to 480hp and 13-litre to 570hp; gas engines are 9-litre at 400hp and 13-litre at 460hp. All are mated to TraXon gearboxes. The maximum range of the 4x2 gas truck has been extended to 1,600km, making it suitable for most operations that don’t need to run at 44 tonnes. While gas trucks have been slower to catch on in the UK than the rest of Europe, there are now 500 Natural Power 6x2 and 4x2 trucks powered by both LNG and CNG on UK roads. With carbon emissions reductions of around 15% over diesel and huge savings on fuel costs, Iveco believes natural gas will become increasingly popular in the UK. The manufacturer has formed a joint venture with Nikola to develop battery and fuel cell electric heavy trucks but argues these are still some way off full-scale production, whereas gas is a viable alternative today.

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 NEWS

Bridgestone hints at a smarter future Bridgestone and Webfleet Solutions – the former TomTom Telematics which the tyre giant acquired last year – have hinted that joint developments are “in the pipeline” for later this year. Bridgestone was due to show its ‘new generation’ Ecopia and Duravis ranges at this year’s CV Show, which offer improved fuel efficiency over previous versions. “The challenge for fleets – and us – is how we measure these improvements,” said Bridgestone retread business development manager, Terry Salter. “That is where Webfleet Solutions comes in.” Webfleet Solutions sales director Beverley Wise added: “We can work with Bridgestone to prove their tyres give the best return on investment.” Pence per kilometre (PPK) contracts

now represent 40% of Bridgestone’s truck fleet business and are still growing, and Webfleet Solutions’ telematics systems will help the tyre company manage these contracts, which can be risky if not carefully controlled. Remote tyre pressure monitoring is key to maximising the life of tyres and this could be one area of future cooperation.

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

Despite the prevalence of OEMs fitting proprietary telematics systems to their trucks before they leave the factory, the lack of standardisation means Webfleet Solutions still needs to install its own black box in most cases, according to Wise. “OEMs are getting better and are increasing the number of vehicles that can be connected,” she said. “But there is no standard box and we all use different algorithms. All fleets want is one set of data they can turn into useable information.” Also in the pipeline this year from Bridgestone is a puncture-free airless concept tyre; as well as tyres for electric vehicles, which need low rolling resistance to maximise range and resistance to kerb damage in urban multi-drop operations.

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 NEWS

Lytx technology helps highlight risky driving Lytx is highlighting its expertise in machine vision and artificial intelligencepowered video telematics solutions, which allow fleets of all sizes to better identify and correct risky driving behaviours. The company said its services and solutions help protect drivers from false claims, aid in their overall security and safety on the road, and help fleets improve productivity and operational efficiency. A wide-ranging modular product

portfolio includes the foundational Lytx Video Platform, which provides on-demand, over-the-air access to video; the best-in-class Driver Safety Programme, which enables personalised coaching workflows and is associated with up to 50% reductions in collisions and up to 80% reductions in claims costs; the Risk Detection Programme; and the firm’s Fleet Tracking Service. These state-of-the-art fleet solutions

are powered by Lytx’s DriveCam Event Recorders, which are equipped with advanced sensors that collect and process data-driven video to analyse what’s happening, both on the road and inside the vehicle. With more than 600,000 of these connected devices in operation, Lytx has analysed over 120 billion miles of driving data to date and helps protect more than 1.3 million drivers.

Maple reports surging demand for safe coupling device to counter risk of rollaways Maple Fleet Services has been experiencing a surge in demand for its trailer rollaway prevention device, SafeConnect, as operators take the lead in mitigating risk across their fleets. For many years, trailer rollaway incidents have been one of transport’s most taboo subjects, said the company. All too frequently, fleet operators will tell you it’s simply not an issue, or that it would never happen to their drivers. But Maple has found otherwise: in a survey it conducted in 2015, two in three drivers admitted to having experienced or witnessed a trailer rollaway situation. The same research also highlighted an under-reporting of such issues and a worryingly blasé attitude towards coupling procedures and the potential dangers around them. Furthermore, there were also common misconceptions about the role played by automatic park brake applications, which Maple points out are quite different to safe coupling solutions. Encouragingly, Maple said this attitude is now showing significant signs of change,

with operators now far more proactive about trailer safety, backed up with clear guidance from industry bodies around safe coupling. SafeConnect is designed to protect the driver throughout the coupling procedure, preventing the early or inadvertent release of trailer brakes, ensuring the driver is safely back in the cab before it is possible to release the brakes. “We launched SafeConnect back in 2014 and even during that time we have seen a massive shift in attitude as more fleets take a proactive lead in protecting their drivers, with the likes of Nestle, DX Freight and TJ Morris (Home Bargains) just a few of the companies to have adopted SafeConnect to enhance their fleet safety,” said Paul Nunn, marketing manager at Maple. “In addition to this we are working alongside a number of new clients who have committed to the rollout of more than 1,000 units during 2020.” To learn more about SafeConnect, visit maplefleetservices.co.uk

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

 NEWS

Yara partners with Suttons AdBlue manufacturer Yara has selected Suttons Tankers to distribute its Air1 product from sites in Scunthorpe, Immingham, Tilbury, Widnes and Gretna. AdBlue is a diesel exhaust fluid used in vehicles with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce harmful emissions. Paul Norman, UK & Ireland manager for the Air1 business at Yara, said: “As the largest AdBlue manufacturer with a worldwide presence, we needed a partner able to deliver a safe and reliable service for our market leading Air1 product. “This latest partnership with Suttons sees a reduction in mileage for our fleet. This not only reduces cost, but also improves customer service and has a positive impact on our carbon footprint.”

Comprehensive support: multi-brand diagnostic supplier Eclipse Automotive is highlighting its comprehensive customer support service to customers for the lifetime of its products. This includes software updates three times per year to reflect new models and latest information, as well as a range of training programmes held at the Eclipse Training Centre. Product guidance and support is provided from Eclipse’s specialist, telephone-based Technical Support Service, which can answer questions, solve vehicle problems and remotely access software as necessary. The Technical Support Service is a key part of the Eclipse package and together with Jaltest and the Eclipse Testpad Extreme®+ helps it remain an industry leader in multibrand diagnostics software.

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 NEWS

CheckPro helps with social distancing CheckPro is offering vehicle operators three months’ free use of its digital defect and compliance management tool to help them meet the challenge of social distancing. Now that remote working has become an essential component in the day-to-day running of most businesses, using the right technology is more important than ever to ensure continuity. The Sheffield-based technology firm said maintaining your compliance procedures with a digital inspection and maintenance reporting system such as CheckPro is a measure that is easy to

implement. It will ensure the framework of social distancing is adhered to by eliminating cross-contamination caused by circulating paperwork, while helping to maintain compliance and streamline operations. CheckPro said its daily walk-around

check app lets drivers carry out their duties with efficiency and precision. Once submitted, driver reports are instantly available to view on the CheckPro CMS, where defects can be processed and rectified. Meanwhile, CheckPro’s workshop and fleet management functions enable a streamlining of key tasks and PMI schedules to reduce vehicle downtime. CheckPro is also Earned Recognition approved and its dashboard will automatically sync all KPIs with the DVSA. Find out more and request your free trial at checkpro.com

Improve distracted driving habits with 360° Vision With the right technology and data-driven insights, you can gain a more holistic view of your ﬂ eet operations. Visit lytx.co.uk/telematics to learn how or chat to us online.

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Disaster Recovery Bearing in mind the time constraints involved in delivering a valuable cargo to a waiting customer, this lost or aborted journey time may prove extremely damaging to a transport operator. UnderVWDQGLQJ WKH KXJH SRWHQWLDO QDQFLDO ORVVHV LQvolved resulting from undelivered loads, Lens-Tech is positioning its latest Hi Vue Fresnel lens model as an essential HGV Disaster Recovery kit, which D RUGV DQ LPPHGLDWH EOLQG VSRW [ LQ VHFRQGV DQG HQDEOHV WKH WUXFN WR QLVK LWV GHOLYHU\ SULRU WR KDYing the electronic equipment repaired or replaced.

Dashboard Overload While the use of electronics has enabled cameras and in-cab video monitors to present a good quality screen display to the truck driver, his workload has actually been increased by this technology! Sadly, the driver having to avert his eyes from the road ahead so as to look towards the dashboard to seek out the monitor screen has resulted in a lengthening of precious split-second visual acquisition time. This new phenomenon, known as, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dashboard Overloadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the result of electronic video monitoring actually being counter intuitive. Quite simply, humans are geared to turn their heads and eyes towards where they perceive danger lurks, - which in the case of driving a vehicle is either directly ahead or to the vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left-or-right hand window sides.

What If? +DYLQJ VSHFL HG WKH LQWHULP '96 FKRLFH DV EOLQG spot cameras and monitors for the safe running of HGVs in the UK, it begs the question about what happens in the event of either the camera or monitor failing or being damaged during a journey? Due to the stringent DVS requirement to â&#x20AC;&#x2122;seeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; into a truckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mirror blind-spot, it is likely that the driver will be forced to curtail the journey once â&#x20AC;&#x2122;blindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and SXOO R WKH URDG LQ RUGHU WR DUUDQJH D [ EHIRUH

Lens-Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-adhesive Fresnel lens combines the best light bending properties within a small $ VL]H DW 39& RU $FU\OLF OHQV ZKLFK SUHVV VWLFNV to the passenger side window and immediately D RUGV DQ Č&#x2021;DW D JODQFHČ&#x2021; OHQV YLHZ LQWR WKH FORVH proximity mirror blind spot area. This intuitive, look-through device reveals a hidden (blind-spot) view to the driver with the least amount of hassle. So, sense it, see it, - directly and fast! &(2 /HV +DLJK DGGHG Č&#x160;)UHVQHO OHQVHV ZHUH LQWURduced by the DfTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VOSA (now DVSA) more than 10 years ago and have a proven statistical record in saving lives by reducing truck mirror blind spots HFRQRPLFDOO\ DQG H HFWLYHO\ 6R DW DURXQG e VAT each, Fresnel lenses are a very sensible antiblind-spot back-up system to cover any camera or monitor electronics failure and save the resultant downtime during a truck journey. Whether already [HG WR WKH SDVVHQJHU ZLQGRZ RU LQ VWDQG E\ mode in the glove box, why wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you want to EH DUPHG ZLWK D W LQ VHFRQGV Č&#x2021;'LVDVWHU 5HFRYHU\Č&#x2021; anti-blind-spot lens kit?â&#x20AC;?

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 NEWS

Mandata portal puts subbies in order Mandata has launched a new portal that allows hauliers to work in a real-time, integrated fashion with subcontractors. Managing subcontractors is a real challenge for hauliers, said Mandata: getting real-time job updates from subbies so they can manage customer expectations is next to impossible; and getting timely PODs back so they can get paid is also an ongoing struggle, it added. In today’s world, it continued, hauliers need to collaborate more closely and paperless systems are required to avoid the exchange of paperwork at delivery points. Mandata said its Subbie Portal and integrated ePOD systems “really can be a game-changer for the industry”. Available now, Subbie Portal is a web application which integrates with

Mandata’s transport management solutions, TMS and Go. Hauliers can invite their subcontractors to work with them, then allocate and send jobs as well as receive real-time job updates and PODs in their Mandata system. They can also elect to share

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

subcontractor job updates with their own customers using a customer portal. The new system provides hauliers with real-time updates from subbies, so they can get PODs turned around without delay along with email invoices, and ensure their own customers’ expectations are fully managed. Subcontractors can print off manifests, carry out the work, refresh status updates (including conformance) and scan relevant documents, which the prime haulier can then view in their Mandata TMS or Go system. The new Subbie Portal is free to use for any transport operation that has been invited to register by an existing subscriber to Mandata’s TMS or Go transport management system.

 NEWS

TRL and QDS boost organ donation A striking new livery has appeared on the roads to help support the vital NHS organ donor campaign. Operated by Widnes-based Q Delivery Services (QDS), the new SDC curtainsider was delivered on contract hire by family trailer supply and maintenance firm Trailer Resources (TRL). The idea for the livery was first suggested by an NHS representative, who contacted QDS after spotting the firm’s newly-branded red and white company trailers on the roads, which TRL had also supplied in collaboration with curtain and decal firm Roland. QDS was asked if their trailers would

carry the “Yes I donate” slogan on their sides to boost awareness of the campaign. TRL worked in partnership with QDS to create the eye-catching livery, and two identical vehicles are now driving around UK roads. Hemel Hemstead-based TRL, founded in 1993 by chairman Des O’Connor, owns a fleet of around 1,500 trailers and runs a

busy authorised testing facility (ATF) to support its own fleet and maintain vehicles for third parties. It also offers a mobile servicing and repair service through a team of specialist mechanics that can visit customers nationwide. Sales director Ryan Jones said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for TRL to be involved in a campaign that we’ve been supporting for many years. A close family friend received a lifesaving operation, a procedure that could not have been carried out without the generosity of a donated organ. We feel this is the least we can do to support such a great organisation.”

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 NEWS

Tyre puncture solutions from Air-Seal Global tyre sealant distributor Air-Seal Products is celebrating its 20th year in business, helping fleets save money on puncture costs and downtime all over the world. The company has come a long way from its launch in 2000 as a one-person operation to where it is now: it currently employs 10 staff members at its offices and warehouse on the Somerset/Devon border. Air-Seal Products said it has flourished over the years by sticking to its clear business objectives and from the input of knowledgeable dynamic team members who are experts in their field, many of whom have worked for the company for more than 14 years. Company founder and MD Alex

Burnand said “Over the past 20 years our distribution has grown steadily by reputation and we are happy to now be operating on a global scale. “We have built-long term relationships with many companies, such as the Royal Mail, the British Armed Services and other government departments. “However, we also enjoy solving the tyre-related problems for many different types of business and individuals whatever size and however quirky they maybe – ranging from the lawnmowers at Buckingham Palace to a Bugatti Veyron competing in the Gumball Rally!” The company last year worked as far afield as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Chile and Mongolia and is now focusing on further expansion of

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

its export business with visits planned to Australia, South Africa and Kazakhstan, along with continuing to support established distributors and growth in the UK market.

AF_Geotab_A4_Fleet Europe_200313.pdf

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Vehicle-check app special offer TDI is offering a special deal on its automated vehicle-check app to support hauliers dealing with coronavirus social distancing challenges across their fleets. Operators will be able to explore the remote working capabilities of TDIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app free of charge for the first three months using the promotional code CVSHOW2020. The compliance app eliminates the need for paper defect reports; everything is stored and accessed online and can be viewed and actioned as soon as the check or incident has been submitted by the driver. Accessed via mobile data network or Wi-Fi, the vehicle-check application allows drivers to search for their registration number, then record in real time that the

check has been carried out and report any problems or defects with the vehicle. Fleet managers can keep complete control over which questions are shown to a driver, depending on the asset they are carrying out a check of. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop system, they can quickly and easily add or

change questions to suit their operation and make sure they are recording the information they require. Images can be captured via driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mobiles of any element of the check, and the office can then determine whether any immediate action is required, without the vehicle returning to the depot. By adding the ability to record incidents in real time, managers can get the information and precise location (via the deviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GPS) they and their insurers require while the driver is still on the scene, said TDI. Additional information about any witnesses and emergency services involved can be recorded alongside any images required. To take advantage of the special offer and find out more, go to tdisoftware.co.uk

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Truck Door Windows Helping reduce accidents! Providing drivers with a large field of view increases hazard detection, thus having the potential to reduce the number of incidents. Direct vision through the side door is at its most beneficial when there is a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) alongside the HGV.

This driver saw her!…… Vision of a HGV driver when turning left can be poor since windscreens and mirrors do not provide a complete view of the entire area surrounding vehicle, creating blind spots. Over the past 3 years, HGV’s were involved in 20% of pedestrian fatalities and over 70% of cyclist fatalities*.

and this is why... Single glazed type approved glass bonded into the door to retain structural integrity, prevent condensation and make cleaning easy Installs on all makes and models of truck Available with option to lower passenger cab window without window mechanism being visible through Direct Vision Window † Truck Align London Ltd Unit 21 Schooner Court, Schooner Park, Crossways Business Park, Dartford, Kent. DA2 6NW Tel: +44 (0) 1322 223638 Email: admin@truckalign.co.uk Web: www.truck-door-windows.com

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

NORTHERN LIGHT LIGHTWEIGHT TIPPERS: MAN 35.400 8x4

Specialist bodybuilder Aliweld and MAN have teamed up to produce a slimmed-down 8x4 35.400 tipper that’s a heavyweight performer WORDS: LUCY RADLEY / PHOTOS: STEVE McCANN News that MAN’s Gateshead dealership had got itself a new 8x4 TGS 35.400 tipper demonstrator didn’t have anyone at CM clearing their diary to race up the A1 – especially when we heard it was specced to carry Tarmac, so there would be no excuse to sink it up to its axles in a quarry somewhere. Then we got the details and everything changed. This tipper is special because it’s light. It has a tare of just 11,940kg and we have the weighbridge tickets to prove it. That means it has the holy grail of tipper payloads – 20 full tonnes. And that still leaves another 60kg for the driver to use up with a week’s food and clothing, which is handy, because it’s hit that weight despite having a sleeper cab. In fact, in no way is this truck poverty-spec to achieve that low tare. It has a 400hp engine, toys including MAN’s Paver Brake and off-road steering brake, a 12-speed TipMatic gearbox and a big 390-litre fuel tank that was full when we weighed off. This thing even comes with an underbunk fridge, for crying out loud. All of which begs two obvious questions: how did MAN get the weight down, and how does the skinny little thing that’s left perform on the road? It was time to head for Gateshead after all.

SLIMMING WORLD The first thing we spot on arrival is a full set of Alcoa Dura-Bright EVO wheels, the obvious place to start a vehicular diet. But the next place

is under the cab with MAN’s D15 engine, which was released last summer as the first in the manufacturer’s new Euro-6d engine line-up. A 9-litre engine, it replaces the 10.5-litre D20 and, while producing the same amount of torque as its predecessor, comes in around 230kg lighter. Part of the saving comes from an improved exhaust after-treatment system – dispensing with the EGR – making this an SCR-only engine. In basic terms, to get the best bang for your buck you need combustion to take place at high temperatures, but that produces more NOx. Adding EGR sorts out the NOx but lowers combustion temperatures so reduces the power that can be extracted. Ditching all that in the D15 means MAN

30 APRIL 2020 CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE

 OPERATIONS

There’s no other bodybuilding company in the UK that does that.” The sides of the body are 4.2mm thick and 4ft high – the standard for this part of the country – and insulation is provided by a simple air pocket. Some bodybuilders use a fibre filling in the walls, but Aliweld prefers not to. “The problem is it gets wet, and then it falls to the bottom of the cavity,” Welch explains. “So, in time, it’s not doing what it’s supposed to, and the bodies end up bulging out.” Marshall returns with the file and joins in. “The air pocket acts like a thermos flask,” he explains. “The Tarmac’s red hot, the air inside the cavity warms up and reflects between the inner and outer skins, which in turn keeps the temperature of the product higher for longer.” This, we’re told, is a tested and proven principle. One of the larger operators in the road business conducted a 10-year trial of all the various body insulation options, including Rockwool and polystyrene slabs, and after extensive studies concluded that air pocket insulation was most effective. “We said ‘we told you that in the beginning, before you started!’” Marshall chuckles.

LIGHT FANTASTIC has been able to keep down the physical size of the whole engine. Another 70kg has been lopped off by use of a single-stage turbocharger – the lack of EGR means the twin-stage turbo needed by the D20 is unnecessary. And it’s got what is, to all intents and purposes, a plastic sump. All of these changes are claimed to give an improvement in fuel efficiency of 2% over the D20. Next comes the body, which has been supplied by aluminium specialist bodybuilder Aliweld – run by Toby Welch and Trevor Marshall just down the road from Gateshead in Ryton. We call in and find them both in their overalls and covered in evidence of their hands-on approach to the business. They know which vehicle we are talking about as soon as we mention it. “We’ve got customers waiting for that on demo!” Marshall immediately pipes up. He disappears to find the paperwork from the build, leaving Welch behind to chat. “It’s got an Edbro CX14 ram on it, which is the lightest of them all and still carries a three-year warranty,” he enthuses. “And our bodies now are made with 8mm thick one-piece flooring in Dural, which is the hardest aluminium in the marketplace.

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

The way we ﬁt the hydraulics doesn’t use as much steel as other people. It’s just common sense

Aliweld bodies are some of the lightest in the marketplace. “We keep the body floor closer to the chassis so we don’t use as much aluminium,” Marshall tells us. “Then the way we fit the hydraulics doesn’t use as much steel as other people. It’s just common sense.” To prove exactly what they’ve added to a vehicle, and to save arguments further down the line, Aliweld weighs every chassis in and out of the factory. Our MAN demonstrator started off at 9,460kg as a bare chassis-cab and left weighing

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS Make/model MAN TGS 35.400 8x4 BB tipper, Tarmac spec, L sleeper cab Engine MAN D1556LF07, 9 litres, 400hp, Euro-6d Transmission MAN TipMatic12 automated manual with DX oﬀ-road mode Chassis Wheelbase 1,795mm+3,205mm +1,400mm, rear frame overhang 800mm, spring suspension Tyres 295/80R22.5 HDC1 TL Fuel/AdBlue tank 390 litres (aluminium)/35 litres

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 OPERATIONS

11,580kg, meaning the body comes in at just 2,120kg. “That’s everything,” Marshall confirms. “So oil, tipping gear, load cells, sheeting system, body and paint.” “People forget about the paint,” Welch adds. “But it’s heavy enough in tins, isn’t it?” Time to see what the finished truck can actually do. Fully laden to 32 tonnes, we get behind the wheel in the company of MAN Truck & Bus Gateshead’s driver trainer, David Smith, who runs through the various controls, including the two we won’t get to play with – the paver brake and the steering brake. He also points out that this is a FORS-spec truck, so it has four-way cameras that can be viewed on the integral screen in the middle of the dash. This switches to a larger view down the blind side of the vehicle when indicating left. There’s an audible warning too, which turns a few heads as we wind our way out of Team Valley – this kind of safety equipment isn’t standard fitment in the north-east yet. The route takes us up into the County Durham hills to the west of Gateshead and along the A692 towards Consett, before turning back along the

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

PAVER BRAKE One of the neatest toys on this tipper is the Paver Brake, which we weren’t able to demo for obvious reasons. Normally, when tipping into a paver on the level or a slight downhill slope, the driver must constantly keep one foot on the brake to stop the vehicle from running away and asphalt being lost. The Paver Brake is operated from a switch in the cab, and applies just enough pressure so that the paver itself can push the vehicle along, but without danger of it rolling away. This means the driver doesn’t need to get involved unless the slope is a steep one.

A693 past Stanley and Beamish. This is not an easy ride out, but the D15 immediately proves that its 9-litre displacement is up to the job. The 400hp variant generates 1,800Nm of torque, all of which is needed to climb up out of the Tyne Valley with no real sign of a struggle. In fact, our main concern at this point is the steering – although it is light and easy to use, the actual wheel is the size of an old dustbin lid. This is purely a matter of personal

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taste, so we stretch our shoulders back at the first junction and get on with it.

PERFECT HARMONY Of course, engine size doesn’t matter one bit unless you have a decent gearbox and the two are properly in synch – especially on roads like this. Out of the 12 speeds on offer, 8th and 7th gear are most commonly picked by the TraXon (Tipmatic) transmission. The truck is held comfortably around 1,200rpm as we head uphill, and it’s only at ear-popping stage 20 minutes into the drive that we realise how high we’ve come. TraXon is quite a responsive gearbox, in that you can make it shift about by varying the pressure of your right foot. The software in this instance is clearly leaning towards economy at all times, and backing off allows the engine to lug down as low as 800rpm before making a block change down, rather than grabbing every gear in sequence. Give it a bit more throttle pressure, however, and it will happily drop a couple of cogs and pull away – albeit with a predictable effect on the fuel consumption. Those block changes, incidentally, are remarkably smooth, with no sign of a lurch as the lower gear engages.

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

People forget about the paint. But it’s heavy enough in tins, isn’t it?

MAN recommends that its vehicles are mainly driven on cruise control, even on winding stretches like this, and while it is easy enough to tap the speed up and down using the buttons on the steering wheel as instructed, it doesn’t feel quite sensible up here. On the other hand, Brakematic is a triumph. If you brake down to your preferred speed – or tap the brake if you’re already there – the engine brake and gearbox together will keep you within 4kph of that, regardless of whether you’re in cruise or not. It’s remarkably effective, and we’re happy to report it will just about hold you at 30mph down the long descent past High Flatts, though the locals won’t thank you for it. If we have one complaint about this truck, it’s that once we’re back on flatter ground and more urban roads, it can feel somewhat sluggish pulling out at roundabouts and junctions. It’s not a delay in the gearbox – give it the correct input by tapping the throttle as you slow to a halt and it is ready to go every time. It’s just that it seems to take forever to get going. This is entirely down to the software, which is a little optimistic when it comes to changing up. That’s fine when you’re clawing your way up a drag and need the engine to dig in, but not so good when you need to nip out in front of Mrs Smith in her Aygo. Perhaps we’re just being too impatient. Running back down the A1 and returning to Team Valley, things become more relaxed, which is a relief after what was quite a challenging drive to this point. Even that massive steering wheel seems sensible now, since it makes being precise in traffic much easier. The only thing we haven’t talked about is road holding. For the record, this is excellent, but then with 20 tonnes in the back, it should be. All in all it’s been an enjoyable day – always a good sign in a working vehicle. And now we’ve given it back to the guys at MAN Truck & Bus in Gateshead, some of Aliweld’s customers might finally get a turn as well!

STEERING BRAKE Another toy we would have liked to play with is the Steering Brake, which brakes the rear wheels on the inside of a bend by an amount based on how far the steering wheel is turned. The truck then turns far more tightly, rather as a tracked vehicle would. The Steering Brake activates when the driver depresses the switch in the cab, and is functional up to 30kph – but it only works going forward, and must only be used off the road.

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NEWELL & WRIGHT: MAN TGS RACE TRUCK

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After an 18-year break, John Newell is truck racing again. And he’s doing it in style in this Newell & Wright Motorsport Truck Racing MAN TGS “A lot has changed in my 18-year absence,” says truck racer John Newell, who at the time of writing sits fourth in the MV Commercial BTRA Championship. “I started racing in a Volvo FM, and I won the championship in a Ford Cargo. The difference between those trucks and this MAN is night and day.”

Engine MAN D26

Max power 1,200hp Max torque 5,500Nm 30mph to 100mph 6.5 secs GVW 5.3 tonnes Fuel economy 2.35mpg

JOHN NEWELL SPEC (Courtesy of BTRA) Team NWT Motorsport Number 18 Age 47 Place of birth he e d

the truck permanently, and that it takes between four and five days to get it looking as smart as it does in these photos after a race meeting.

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020

Years racing 7 Titles 1999 Division 2 Rookie of the Year, 2000 Division 2 Champion Favourite circuit Donington Park

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY THREE 30 APRIL 2020