Elddis Transport puts first of its urban artics into operation

Elddis Transport has put its first urban artic on the road, as an alternative to the 18-tonne rigids it usually operates within towns and cities.

Comprising a 10-metre Lawrence David engineered trailer pulled by a Euro-5 New Actros, the configuration was trialled in Manchester earlier this year and provides four additional pallet spaces (20 compared to 16) over a rigid.

Elddis will take delivery of more shorter trailers in 2013. It is also due to receive the remaining four New Actros units from an order of 10 this weekend.

MD Nigel Cook added that the company is currently running 10 of the 11 longer semi-trailers it has been granted permission to run do so as part of the DfT's ongoing trial.

"We're trying to find a part of our operation to fit the final longer-semi trailer into," he said.