240 new special purpose vehicles for trans-o-flex
The trans-o-flex logistics group will put 240 new vans, trucks and trailers into service this year, with the first vehicles already starting in March. The company has only ordered diesel engines that meet the latest emission standards and therefore will not be affected by driving restrictions as things stand today.
“On the one hand, we are investing in our fleet to modernize it and to create capacity for further shipment growth. On the other hand, with the current order we are preparing for further diesel driving bans,” says Wolfgang P. Albeck, CEO of the logistics service provider specializing in industry solutions, especially for the pharmaceutical industry.
Trans-o-flex would like to use electric vehicles as well. But related tests in the last year have shown that the range limitations are still so great, especially for the vehicles with temperature control, that a use is currently uneconomical and hardly possible in practice.
Nevertheless, Wolfgang P. Albeck has set the target this year that the first delivery rounds with electric vehicles should be conducted in the fourth quarter. Delivery vehicles are expected to be used without active temperature control of the cargo space.
The now ordered vehicles are exclusively thermal vehicles with a special body. Specifically, there are 150 vans (3.5-ton vehicles from Mercedes-Benz) and 35 trucks (14-ton vehicles and 5-ton vehicles from Iveco). These are two-chamber vehicles in which the goods can each be transported in two temperature zones (2 to 8 degrees Celsius and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius).
In addition, 55 thermal trailers will be procured for scheduled services (single-chamber system). All vehicles are certified to the pharmaceutical standard and can therefore be used directly after delivery for drug transports. According to Wolfgang P. Albeck, the acquisition cost is “significantly more than EUR 10 million.”