Best Tractor Units for High Payload Bulk Transport
If your truck operation involves lots of short or regional distance, high payload journeys, the specification for the tractor unit that you use will be vastly different to the tractor unit working long haul. Driver comfort and space is of less importance, as the drivers are back home every night sand do not have to live in the cabs.
What is important is maximising the payload – every kilo saved on the weight of the truck means another kilo that can be charged out for the load.
Think fuel tanker delivery (N.B. tractor unit also needs to be Pet Regs), or bulk waste transfer or aggregate tipping, certain agri products, such as beet will also fall into this category.
There are similar applications in bulk transport that do deal with longer distances and overnight stops. In these examples, weight is still saved where possible, but less focus will be put on reducing the cab size.
For local bulk haulage, ideally cabs should be day cabs or small sleeper cabs at worse, the third axle could be the lighter weight variety (smaller wheels and tyres) – these 6×2 pusher axles could save as much as 500kg. This specification holds regardless of the brand. If there is an option of two engine swept volumes, then it would be worth considering the smaller engine (NB not just low power output as this may be from the same sized engine.) Air suspension on the rear is a must, as this saves weight, as is a low cab, depending on the height of the trailer the tractor unit is pulling.
These trucks are the real workhorses of the industry – this means that brand snobbery appears to be less important than in long haul. This means that every truck manufacturer is in with a shout.
Which Truck Manufacturers offer Lightweight Tractor Units?
DAF
Certainly, market leader, DAF have their ‘FTP’ configuration which includes the lightweight mid axle and is available on XD, XF and XG cabs. Using the XD and XG+ as an example, there is a weight saving of over 500kg between the XD410 FTP and the XG+450 even though they both use the same 10.8 litre PACCAR MX11 engine, 12 speed Traxon transmission and wheelbase length. If you have to have the larger cab – great. If not, then the XD should be a the top of the shopping list.
Scania
Scania offer a short and low version of the G Series cab plus a low day cab. The 9-litrer may not be up to the job at a maximum of 360hp which leaves the 13-litre for outputs from 370 to 540hp. The smaller, P-Series cab is available with the short and low plus the normal roof day cab. There is no OEM lightweight axle, but plenty of aftermarket lightweight midlift conversions.
Volvo
Volvo Trucks offers a lightweight specification on both the FM and FH range. They take the job seriously. Volvo’s mono leaf front suspension installation cuts 65kgs and a redesigned rear axle means 90 kilos less. Weight optimised chassis frame members, a 7.1 tonne front axle, lightweight disc brakes and aluminium brackets, and air tanks further reduce the kerb weight. There is a midlift 6×2 pusher option that can save as much as 490kg compared to a standard 6×2. Available with the 11-litre with a kerb weight about 100kgs lower than to the DAF XD (with similar wheelbase) at just under 7.5 tonnes and power to 460hp.
Mercedes
Mercedes offer their 6×2/2 (one steer axle) VLA layout with the choice of 17.5” tyres instead of 22.5” and the ClassicSpace 2.3 metre wide cab. There are two models – a Volumer (low ride) and a ‘Loader’ for higher payloads. With the Loader, there is a choice of 24 or 25 tonner (14.5” or 22.5” wheels) and a wide choice of power outputs from the 10.7 itre OM470 engine from 326 to 455hp. Cab choices start at the ClassicSpace with the largest choice being the StreamSpace.
Which is the Best Lightweight Tractor Unit for Bulk Operation?
It would be a close-run thing between the DAF XD and the Volvo FM Lite, but our winner of the best lightweight tractor unit is the Volvo FM Lite.
Find Lightweight tractor units for sale