LONDON – SIG plc, which operates one of the largest fleets of 26-ton trucks in the United Kingdom, has taken delivery of a new Iveco Stralis AD260S31YP/S from Blackwell-based distributor Sherwood Commercials, according to the Web site www.easier.com.

The Stralis 6x2 rigid, which benefits from rear air-suspension and a rear-steering axle, joins 30 similar vehicles already in operation. The rear-steering axle aids the vehicle’s maneuverability, enabling the Stralis to access construction sites in central London where access for commercial vehicles is often very restrictive.

The new Stralis will be in operation up to six days a week and is expected to remain on the fleet for between six and seven years, covering up to 80,000 km a year. It is powered by a 7.8L Cursor 8 engine, developing up to 310 hp between 1,675 and 2,400 rev/min and up to 1,300 Nm of torque between 1,200 and 1,675 rev/min.

As with all Euro 4 and Euro 5 Stralis models sold in the United Kingdom, this vehicle features Iveco’s latest EuroTronic AS1420 TD gearbox, which sees the gear change controls incorporated into the dashboard on the right-hand steering column stalk.

This latest vehicle is fitted with a 26ft curtainside body and with the new Moffett Mounty ‘M5,’ which offers the ability to load and unload from the same side of the vehicle. It is also 500kg lighter than the model it replaces, offering an increase in the vehicle’s payload capacity.