Multimodal 2014: Malcolm Logistics launches its 50ft container

Malcolm Logistics unveiled its 50ft container at Multimodal yesterday (30 April), one of 40 that the company plans to introduce to both its road and rail operations.

The container, which was officially launched by the Princess Royal at the NEC yesterday, sits on top of the chassis of one of its 15.65m SDC-built longer semi-trailers.

Group technical engineer Allan Campbell told Motortransport.co.uk that the container has been approved for both road and rail use and was modified by Liverpool-based Bootle Containers.

It is capable of carrying 15% more freight (four more pallets) per journey than a standard sized-container, as well as delivering a 13% per pallet CO² saving.

Campbell said: “Originally the trailer and container were completed late last year and we are going to customers to show them the trailer at the moment.

“The customers interested in it are glass producers and supermarkets- anyone that can see the benefit in getting more in the trailer.”

The operator currently has 40 of the containers on order, but Campbell hopes to see a further 40 go into operation.

“The big [benefit] for us is that it allows us to have more load space in the trailer. Although we can move more goods, the key thing is the CO² savings we get from it,” he added.

In addition to the containers, this year Malcolm Logistics is adding eight more 14.6m longer semi-trailers to the fleet, bringing the total number it operates to 19. It has also ordered 70 standard-sized trailers.

Campbell said it also has 40 Volvos, a mix of FHs and FMs, on order, plus a Euro-6 MAN tractor unit which is being built next week.

The new additions to the fleet will be split between its depots in Newhouse, Linwood and Heydock.

Multimodal finishes today. Visit Malcolm Group's stand to see the container.