Multi-modal transport and logistics company SCT has taken on a large order of new Scania Super prime movers to add to its fleet, with 14 new trucks arriving this week.
SCT Logistics is confident the Scanias will deliver significant fuel savings compared to the older models they had previously been using.
“We have taken delivery of 10 new 560 R SUPER and four 460 G SUPER prime movers for our Victorian operations,” says national fleet manager Michael Sommers.
“These trucks have replaced 14 older PGR-series Scanias including some V8-powered vehicles, and the fuel efficiency and torque performance improvement has been impressive. We are receiving weekly fleet reports through the Scania management system, which is handy for keeping a close eye on how the vehicles are performing.
“The 460 hp prime movers are pulling single trailers, usually PUD refrigerated units around Melbourne, typically carrying frozen and chilled food for supermarkets as well as general freight, while the 560 Rs will be running as 68.5-tonne B-double Tautliner transports under mass management from our rail depots to customers, as well as in reverse.
“We had quite a good run with the PGR trucks, but the technology has moved on and so after seven years it is time to bring on replacements. We had a new SUPER prime mover on loan for a week and we were quite impressed with it. The drivers loved it.
“As with the previous Scanias, we have taken the 14 new vehicles on a full repair and maintenance contract, and we have purchased the vehicles through Scania’s in-house financing arm.
“We don’t cover huge distances in these trucks – the G-series will do about 30,000 km a year and the R-series about twice that. However, we don’t keep ‘spare’ trucks on the fleet so uptime, reliability and efficient servicing is very important to us.”
With 14 new trucks in the fleet, the features included in each were a drawcard to purchase a significant number to add to the company.
“We have a fairly stable group of staff and agency drivers and we like to keep them paired to individual trucks,” Sommers says.
“Comfort is a key feature that reduces fatigue and promotes safety, especially when drivers are waiting to load or unload, so we specified Scania’s factory-fitted auxiliary coolers. Because these are battery-powered the truck doesn’t need to idle the engine and burn fuel unnecessarily in order to keep the cab cool or warm.
“Safety is a key focus for us, and for our customers, so the Scanias fulfil these requirements with their many advanced safety systems, as well as fully transparent servicing via the fleet management system.
“With the global push for renewable fuel sources, we are after the lowest emission impact vehicles around, and with alternate fuel supplied vehicles such as electric and hydrogen still a little way off for larger vehicles, we aim to strive for as close to zero emissions as possible.”