The 7 tonne Iveco Daily
Six Iveco Daily light commercial vehicles put into highways operation
The vehicles, which Amey claims make them a ‘game changer’ for traffic management operations, incorporate an innovative new body design with the ability to carry enough equipment for a full 2km lane closure, while offering multiple safety and operational benefits over larger truck chassis typically used for such deployments.
This design of the overall vehicle is the result of close co-operation between Amey and its suppliers, including bodybuilder Acklea, Strongs Plastic Products and Iveco.
Michael Wilmshurst, HGV & Plant Procurement and Asset Development Manager at Amey, says: “We engaged with colleagues from across the company in order to understand their precise requirements, and then worked closely on the design of this vehicle with our suppliers. The design went through a prototype build, and then was modified following feedback from staff working on different contracts […] and highlights just what can be achieved when you apply fresh-thinking to an existing solution, and work closely with suppliers in the industry to make it happen.”
Key to the vehicle’s enhanced efficiency is Iveco’s Daily 70C17 chassis, which despite a 500kg lower gross vehicle weight compared with a traditional 7.5 tonner, offers an increase of 250kg in payload capacity. Being a light commercial, running costs are also lower due to improved fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance costs and there is no requirement for AdBlue. The ride height is also lower than a conventional truck chassis, ensuring easier access to the cab and enabling the body to be lower to the road, which is crucial for traffic management deployment.
Amey operates approximately 6,000 commercial vehicles in the UK, but this is the first time it has specified the Daily for a traffic management application. Other Dailys in the fleet are used as mobile elevated work platforms, and most recently the 7.0 tonne Daily chassis has been specified for tipper operations.
