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Preston-based H Parkinson Haulage (HPH) has taken delivery of seven Iveco Stralis NP 460 4x2 gas powered trucks after 30 months of successfully trialling seven of the Stralis NP 400 4x2 tractors.

The seven Stralis NP 400 tractors each covered 550,000km over the period of the trial, making HPH one of the first UK operators to cover more than half a million kilometres in individual gas trucks.

The Preston-based haulier said the experience was so positive it prompted the firm to replace its 400hp CNG-fuelled 8.7-litre CURSOR 9 models with the higher output 12.9-litre CURSOR 13.

The CURSOR 13 NP is engineered by FPT Industrial. It produces 460-horsepower and 2,000Nm of torque between 1,100 and 1,600rpm with oil changes at 90,000km.

The new CNG-powered Stralis trucks will continue where the old ones left off by servicing the four daily trips between a regional distribution centre in Chorley, Lancashire and the client’s production plant in Barrow-in-Furness.

The trucks will work 24-hours a day on a multi-driver shift pattern pulling a total payload of 8-tonnes on 15.6 metre curtain sided Longer Semi Trailers (LSTs).

Drivers refuel at the CNG Fuels’ Leyland gas station half a mile from the Chorley RDC, thus reducing the need to refuel during the 160-mile round trip.

HPH said the combination of Stralis NPs and LSTs has worked well with the trailers offering the added flexibility of being able to accommodate a maximum of 60 pallets.

HPH has been running gas powered trucks since 2018 with the support of local dealer Walton Summit Truck Centre in Preston.

HPH director Steve Sugden said: “We have been very well supported by both Iveco and Walton Summit during the last 30 months.

“Our gas trial has been a true partner approach and Walton Summit’s gas knowledge, advice, support and service around the clock has been invaluable.

“Being one of the first operators to adopt gas power has proven a positive experience and we are confident our Stralis NPs have had a neutral impact on the environment.

He added: “TCO costs have also been very favourable. The cost of gas versus diesel has been significantly lower during the past 30 months and it will be interesting to see how the higher power Stralis NP 460s perform on the Chorley Barrow-in-Furness route.”

The Stralis NP gas replacement programme has coincided with HPH taking delivery of four diesel Stralis AS440S46TX/P 460hp steering mid-lift 6x2s.

These are the first non-gas Iveco trucks to enter service on the HPH fleet and will be used on the same contract as the gas trucks.

Gareth Lumsdaine, Iveco UK’s truck business line director said: “We are delighted that HPH is replacing its Stralis NP 400s with NP 460s, it shows confidence in gas power and the service and support provided by the Iveco brand.

“HPH was an early pioneer of gas and has demonstrated how CNG is a viable option for truck operators, particularly when running the high mileages covered by the Stralis NPs over the past 30 months.”

Iveco NP trucks produce less than 71dB on the PIEK quiet truck test and when fuelled by 100% biomethane emit 95% less CO2 than their Euro-6 diesel counterparts, without the need for particulate filter regeneration and AdBlue.

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