A new Roger Dyson Landoll travelling-axle trailer is helping Irish operator Shaw Commercials turn around recovery jobs in half the time, with half the manpower!
Based in Castlebar, County Mayo, the company provides recovery services to truck, bus and coach operators throughout the west of Ireland.
Previously, for many of these jobs, it has relied on a standard, fixed-axle low-loader trailer. But for buses and coaches in particular, with their very long overhangs, this was not an ideal solution.
"Getting a bus onto the trailer was a two-man job and always difficult - the angle of approach just wasn't low enough," says Managing Director Mick Shaw.
"But the Landoll is specifically designed for recovery work and the travelling axle system means the approach angle is very low indeed. The time it takes to turn around a recovery has been slashed by at least half, and it's now a safe and straightforward one-man operation.
"That obviously makes our lives easier, but is a big and very welcome improvement in the level of service we can provide to our customers too."
This is the first time that Shaw Commercials has invested in equipment from Roger Dyson. Based in Droitwich, Worcestershire, the leading specialist is the sole UK and European distributor for the American Landoll brand, as well as manufacturing its own, comprehensive range of vehicle recovery systems.
"I flew over to Birmingham and was met at the airport by Roger Dyson himself - he drove me to his premises and gave me a tour of his impressive factory and workshop, before showing me the trailer I'd come to buy," recalls Mr Shaw.
"We discussed some minor modifications I wanted to make to the basic spec, which were sorted quickly and without fuss. Dyson then delivered the trailer onto the ferry and I met it at the other end. The whole process was handled very smoothly and professionally."
Shaw Commercials' new trailer has a fully hydraulic, 48ft platform (Landolls are also available at 41ft) and offers an ultra low loading angle of less than six degrees. Other features include an extra front extension, over-width side-mounted outriggers and a 20,000lb winch with remote control. Fitted with three Haldex EBS electronically braked 11,000kg axles, it is designed to a gross vehicle weight of 53,000kg, giving a potential carrying capacity of 44,000kg and allowing it to cope easily with the largest recovery jobs.
"The Landoll is an excellent addition to our fleet and - as far as we know - is unique in the west of Ireland. I'm delighted with its ease of use and the build quality is superb," adds Mr Shaw.
Shaw Commercials recently moved from its former home is Snugboro to new, purpose-built premises on Castlebar's Breaffy Road Business Park, which include County Mayo's first Vehicle Testing Network (VTN) Commercial Test Centre.
As well as running a recovery fleet the company is Mayo's only Renault truck dealer, so the Landoll also offers a useful capability to transport both new and used truck chassis.