DHL Parcel is investing £6.7m (US$8.6m) in an upgrade to its fleet of trucks and trailers to gain additional handling capacity to support future growth. The investment includes 45 Volvo Tractor Units, 24 Volvo Rigid trucks and 29 Don-Bur double deck trailers.
Following recent investment in the company’s national hub and several network sites, DHL Parcel is now ensuring that its fleet is best-in-class and also capable of handling greater volumes. The double deck trailers from manufacturer Don-Bur offer twice the capacity of traditional trailers, enabling more parcels to be transported without having additional vehicles on the road.
In addition to greater cubic capacity, the Don-Bur Lifting Decks are also fitted with EcoStream aerodynamic front curved roof sections which have been reported to save up to 16% in fuel compared to standard flat roofs.
The new vehicles from Volvo, which will largely operate in urban areas, come fitted with the latest safety technology including auto braking, lane keeping support, lane changing support and driver alert support, which tracks driver behavior to identify indicators of tiredness and warns the driver to take a break.
Volvo’s Rigid trucks were selected for their additional lower passenger door glazing panels and a second side window behind the passenger door, which gives better visibility of pedestrians and cyclists.
Scott Laird, vice president of operations, DHL Parcel, said, “The investment in our fleet is part of the infrastructure upgrade the business requires to support growth. However, this is also an opportunity to ensure drivers are equipped with the latest technology to ensure their safety and that of the public.”