November 2005
Stephens Fuel Oil has taken delivery of one of the first tankers to be built on Seddon Atkinson’s new R5 Strato chassis, supplied by local distributor Walls Trucks.
The 18 tonne 4x2 rigid becomes one of two front-line vehicles delivering fuel oils to customers in South Wales, operating primarily within a 30 mile radius of the company’s base in Newport, Gwent.
Finished in a distinctive blue and yellow livery, the Strato is fitted with a fuel tanker body built by Jones Tankers of Worcestershire, and is expected to remain on the fleet for its entire operational life.
“We keep trucks on the front-line for up to five years, after which they take on a support role in the fleet,” explains Steve Meredith, Managing Director of Stephens Fuel Oil. “Our business has regular busy periods, which means the support fleet is often relied upon to ensure our customers receive their orders promptly.
“This makes selecting a vehicle with a reputation for impressive reliability essential, which was one of our main reasons for selecting the Strato. Seddon Atkinson has also long been associated with the rigid tanker market, and its a brand we know performs well in this industry,” he adds.
The Strato will be in operation five days a week and is expected to cover up to 40,000 km a year.
It is powered by a 5.9 litre tector engine which is capable of producing up to 275 hp at 2,500 rev/min and a maximum torque of 930 Nm at 1,250 rev/min, driven through a nine-speed Eaton synchromesh gearbox with a heavy-duty twin plate 356mm clutch.