It has been a bit of a wait for the S-Way to arrive in the UK in right hand drive form. The delays were caused by the pandemic and meant that a few left hand drive examples had been sold in the UK. The first examples are now arriving in right hand drive, and a cracking looking S-Way 560 tractor unit has been delivered to Hampshire-based Rogers Transport.
With a fleet of 14 trucks, half of which are IVECO, the general haulage and Palletways member will primarily use it on refrigerated supermarket trunking routes, occasionally branching into curtain-side and low-loader work alongside their six Stralis.
The S-Way Specification
Ordered with the 12.9-litre CURSOR 13, the AS440S57TX/FP with its 570hp engine has a spec sheet that stretches across several pages. The 6×2 with steering mid-lift runs on full air suspension, which Managing Director, Simon Rogers says makes for “fantastic road-holding and comfort”. It also allows them to raise the ride-height all-round whenever they might need to venture off the beaten track. This complements the truck’s shiny light-weight Alcoa Dura-bright aluminium wheels, and Rogers’ bespoke style of fitting chrome lighting and under bumper bars for added style and personality.
Making an early impression is the ZF retarder. This is the first truck that Rogers has bought fitted with the powerful auxiliary braking system, which was chosen to enhance smooth progress on hillier routes with heavy trailers and reduce drivers’ need to rely upon the service brakes, minimising wear on consumable parts.
With body-coloured bumpers and painted in All Black Metallic, styling has been enhanced by the Full LED Pack which includes front and rear LED lighting with the headlights incorporating cornering functionality, fog lights and the new combined DRL (Daytime Running Lights) lighting signature and indicator. While improving visibility and hazard perception by up to 15%, this lighting combination, the paintwork, sun visor and fitted headlamp protection grilles have given the truck a distinctly stealthy look.
To amplify comfort on nights out in the UK and across continental Europe, the vehicle has been specified with an independent cab heater, ambient lighting, door and bunk blinds, Night-time Safety Lock and new fully integrated under-bonnet parking cooler which does away with bulky roof-mounted set-ups, which contributes to the IVECO S-WAY’s up to 12% drag coefficient reduction. Alongside their usual array of styling and protection equipment, the new truck has been fitted with 360-degree cameras, audible turning warnings and a near-side blind-spot monitoring system to comply with London Direct Vision Standards.
“It’s possible that we got a bit excited and carried away with the specification, but with it being a new model we wanted a fleet flagship and there are so many great new features such as the connectivity and ability to connect and operate certain functions with a smartphone. Our drivers all want it for the looks, but I thought I’d keep the keys for a little while. However we’re already so impressed with it, an order for a second has been placed”, said Simon Rogers.
It has certainly been a busy truck since it joined the fleet as the firm’s Transport Manager, Emma Rogers, arranged with Hendy Truck in Eastleigh to surprise Simon by having the new truck ready to collect instead of the older Stralis he had been expecting. Despite the husband-and-wife management team taking a very hands-on approach to the business, Emma added that she “had not yet really had an opportunity to drive it as Simon has been out enjoying nightshifts in it.”
R & M Package Extended
As standard for the IVECO S-WAY, all UK trucks come fitted with a Connectivity Box facilitating access to high-tech IVECO ON connected features that complement the 2-year ‘smart’ Repair & Maintenance Package. For its new IVECO S-WAY, Rogers has extended this to a 5-year plan knowing that trusted IVECO dealer, Hendy Van & Truck will be on-hand to provide support if needed.
The Iveco Truck Dealer – Hendy
“We’ve been working with Hendy now for about 17 years and have always received top-rate service. The trucks have always been solid and reliable too, we can’t fault them. We tend to go for higher specifications and the bigger engines which incentivises the drivers to take better care of them,” commented Mr Rogers.
“We’re very pleased to continue this relationship and proud that Rogers Transport has chosen to welcome the new IVECO S-WAY to its fleet in a specification that presents the new features and their inherent benefits so well” said Hendy Truck Sales Manager, Nick Prideaux.
“Not only does their new truck look so fantastic, but its improved aerodynamics, design and driver comfort will pay dividends for them in terms of low TCO, high driver engagement and enjoyment from Simon’s drivers!”