THALIA WASTE MANAGEMENT HAS JUST UPGRADED ITS VEHICLE FLEET WITH BOTH THEIR LATEST RIGIDS AND TRACTOR UNITS BEING FITTED WITH HARSH HOOKLOADER BODYWORK AND TRACTOR KITS RESPECTIVELY.
In total a dozen new trucks have recently been put on the road, comprising eight hookloaders mounted on 410hp DAF XD chassis and four 450hp XD tractors. These vehicles are each the first of their type to join Thalia’s fleet, and will further extend the company’s premium levels of service to its clients.
Based at Thalia’s state of the art 400 acre waste handling and recycling centre immediately adjacent to the A10 at Waterbeach, three miles north of Cambridge, the new trucks will primarily be employed on trade waste and high volume recycling duties including Thalia’s full – service waste handling contract with Cambridgeshire County Council.
The combination of HARSH hookloader bodywork with the latest DAF XD chassis is one that has proved highly attractive to Thalia. Fully committed to operating economy and efficiency, Thalia opted for 8×2 chassis with a rear lift axle rather than traditional double drive 8x4s, the resulting benefits including significantly improved manoeuvrability, lower unladen weight, reduced tyre wear and enhanced fuel economy.
For the bodywork, the HARSH HH26 unit offers proven reliability, durability and ease of maintenance. Given that Thalia vehicles often run with their container tops covered whether laden or empty, HARSH’s integral width – adjustable sheeting system is a valuable feature of its hookloader specification. So too are the advanced, easy to use controls that are operated via a hand held ‘tv remote’ device that either sits in a cradle by the driver’s seat or can be used outside of the truck via a wander lead.
Thalia’s Transport Manager Dan Smith comments “Given our inherent focus on environmental issues, we really wanted to make our new trucks as efficient and economical to operate as possible, whilst at the same time offering our drivers a pleasant, safe and totally modern working environment. As well as offering an ideal hookloader specification, the fact that HARSH also has an East Anglian service support centre less than an hour away is also of no small importance.”
“We’ve also thoroughly enjoyed working with HARSH who are genuinely enthusiastic for their business, and in turn always ready to work closely with us to deliver optimum solutions.”
Turning to the four new tractors, these are again XD models, this time mid lift 6×2 chassis with 450hp engines and each fitted with a HARSH hydraulic wet kit optimised to work with maximum capacity walking floor trailers. As with the hookloaders, HARSH tractor kits combine low weight and high power along with a simple pipework layout affording maximum practicality and ease of use.
“From our perspective, HARSH has got it absolutely right” says Paul Kirkup, Thalia’s Principal Business Manager. “Their hookloader product is everything that we want and complete in every way. We particularly like the fact that HARSH is also very knowledgeable and ‘hands on’ in their approach to us, whilst also fully communicative with our DAF dealer Chassis Cab to ensure that everything progresses as it should. And, of course, the availability of local HARSH back-up and service support is a real bonus as well.”
Speaking for HARSH, Sales Director Harry Hustler says “We are naturally delighted to have been able to work with Paul and Dan to deliver these new trucks to Thalia. As complete vehicles, they offer another step forward in operating efficiency and productivity, and will therefore set a new standard for the waste industry as a whole.”
