October 2005
Northampton-based Mainland Group has taken delivery of three 18 tonne Iveco Eurocargos, each supplied on a four-year repair and maintenance agreement by Iveco distributor Stormont Truck & Van.
The Eurocargo 180E24’s join a fleet totalling 60 commercial vehicles - 80 per cent of which are Ivecos, ranging from panel vans to maximum weight tractor units.
Commenting on the deliveries, Mike Bacon, Managing Director of Mainland Group, a member of the Pall-Ex network, explains: “The Eurocargo is a very strong fleet performer, and more than a rival to any other 18 tonner on the market. These vehicles benefit from the medium roof sleeper cab, which gives our drivers plenty of extra space and comfort.
“We have operated a large Iveco fleet for many years and Stormont supply us with a complete range of services, which is why we remain loyal to them. They get involved in the specification of our new vehicles from the planning stage, right through to supplying us with genuine Iveco parts and technical support for our own workshop,” he adds.
Two of the new Eurocargos are finished in the company’s traditional corporate livery and will be used primarily on its contract making deliveries for Whittard of Chelsea. They each feature curtainside bodies built by Derek Jones Bodywork and Anteo tail-lifts.
The third vehicle carries the Mac Tools livery and is fitted with a box body and a specialist Ray Smith hydraulic tail-lift. This will enable it to safely transport complete tool box sets, which are often too large or heavy to be loaded using a standard tail-lift.
The Eurocargos are powered by a 240 hp version of Iveco’s proven 5.9 litre tector engine, which develops up to 810 Nm of torque between 1,250 and 2,100 rev/min, driven through a nine-speed manual gearbox.
Like all Eurocargo models, they also feature ABS and an electronic engine immobiliser as standard, as well as a triple activation exhaust brake which can be actuated by the brake pedal, the exhaust brake pedal or by releasing the accelerator.
Each of the new trucks is expected to remain in operation with Mainland Group for four years, covering up to 110,000 km a year. They will be joined by a fourth Iveco 18 tonner in time for Christmas, and join four Eurocargo 75E17’s which were delivered within the past six months.