IVECO has delivered 12 new 18-tonne Eurocargo trucks to Worldwide Flight Services to spearhead its ground handling operations at Heathrow airport. The trucks’ unrivalled versatility was one of the main reasons of this purchase.
“With the stop-start nature of the work we do, our drivers are in and out of the vehicles all the time. We need cabs offering easy access, and the fact the Eurocargo has been set up for multi-drop work means it’s perfect for our operation,” said Ronnie Roberts, transport and logistics manager for Worldwide Flight Services at Heathrow.
“The design of the interior also allows drivers to easily access the cab from either side, saving them time and making their jobs a lot safer. This is particularly beneficial airside, where tight turnaround times mean there is often a hive of activity around an aircraft waiting to depart. These new vehicles have impressed quickly, and we’re confident we’ll be replacing more of the fleet with Eurocargos built to this same specification,” he added.
Another major factor for choosing the Eurocargo was IVECO’s patented HI-SCR technology, which is a single anti-emission system that utilises passive regeneration of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and requires neither driver involvement nor downtime from active regeneration. Moreover, it enables unrestricted access to sensitive environments like airports and tunnels where the high temperatures caused by active regeneration can pose a significant risk and result in application restrictions for operators.
“Airports are under constant pressure to be greener and these vehicles help us do our bit by improving efficiency and cutting emissions,” explained Roberts.
Each Eurocargo is powered by a 6.7-litre, Tector 7 engine that produces 250 hp at 2,500 rev/min and 850Nm of torque between 1,250 and 2,050 rev/min. The trucks have been mounted with a specialised flatbed body built by AMSS and all maintenance work will be carried out at the local IVECO dealership, located just seven miles away, on a five-year IVECO Elements repair and maintenance package which has been structured to maximise vehicle performance and uptime.
