Fraikin delivers new double-deck trailer fleet to Amtrak

15 October 2007

Fraikin has delivered the first of 18 double-deck and 20 single deck trailers to Amtrak, the UK express parcels company, as part of a major fleet replacement programme.

The 13.6 metre Lawrence David trailers, supplied by Fraikin as part of an expanded contract hire agreement, will operate on routes between the company’s hub at Aldridge in the West Midlands and some of its 64 nationwide depots.

Amtrak is introducing the high-volume double-deck trailers, each worth over £40,000, on additional routes to increase trailer capacity and efficiency at it depots and is expected to keep the new units on fleet for the next seven years.

Measuring 4.7m in height, the double-deck trailers benefit from a Dhollandia two-tier tail-lift serving the upper deck - with the capacity to transport up to 33 roll cages on the upper deck and 23 roll cages on the lower deck.

“Fraikin has worked closely with designers and engineers at Lawrence David Trailers and Amtrak’s own team to ensure we get the best possible performance and lowest operating cost over the lifetime of each trailer,” says Alan Jones, Amtrak Managing Director.

“We have made a conscious decision to increase the number of double-deck trailers on our fleet as part of a replacement programme that will significantly reduce the cost of operating on our busiest routes, while further increasing trailer capacity.  In addition, with companies continuously looking to reduce their impact on the environment by making fuel efficiency savings, this will also help us achieve our goal of cutting road mileage,” he adds.

The specialist nature of these trailers requires regular servicing and maintenance, which is managed by Fraikin to ensure the minimum of disruption to Amtrak’s daily operation. 

All routine servicing is controlled by Fraikin’s Customer Service Centre, with the contract hire agreement structured to include the provision of tyres and 24/7 breakdown support.  As with all contract hire agreements, at the end of the contract the trailers will be returned to Fraikin, meaning Amtrak has none of the hassles typically associated with used asset disposal.

Fraikin’s existing contract hire deal with Amtrak covers its fleet of 115 trailers.