The mono-temperature, box-body reefers join the fourth-generation family business’s 110-strong trailer fleet as replacements. Approximately 60 per cent of Dale Brothers’ trailers carry the blue elephant logo.
Neyland Dale, Joint Managing Director at Dale Brothers, says: “Schmitz Cargobull trailers are great value for money. Certain features that come as standard are extra from other manufacturers, such as an aluminium floor.
“It’s one of the many reasons that we’ve been buying reefers from them for the past 15 years. They’ve proved hard-wearing and excellent tools for the job, which form the backbone of our busy temperature-controlled operation.”
Two of the trailers have pallet boxes for runs to the continent, and all feature disc brakes as part of a fleet standardisation policy designed to ensure assets can be swapped in and out of the operation as required.
Dale adds that another advantage of the Schmitz Cargobull S.KO COOL is that the box body is integral to the chassis, rather than sitting on top of it as with some designs – this lowers the overall ride height. It means that the trailer isn’t as tall as other options on the market, which improves fuel efficiency due to reduced drag. It also makes it ideal for continental work where there is a uniform 4m height restriction.
“They also have their own brand of load lock rail internally, which is excellent and works with a wide range of equipment,” adds Dale.
The trailers, which feature Carrier Transicold refrigeration units, are constructed with Schmitz Cargobull’s proven FERROPLAST® technology. This combines the increased insulation of a polyurethane hard foam with a durable and resistant covering of multiple layers of coated metal. The resulting energy efficiency reduces fuel consumption and boosts the performance of the vehicle.
“An advantage of the ‘metal skin’ is that compared with trailers made form Glass Reinforced Plastic, it can endure dents and knocks. As it’s supposed to, the metal bends but doesn’t break or shatter, so the trailer and its load remain intact,” says Dale.
Although all new S.KO COOL semi-trailers come with two years of complementary TrailerConnect® access, facilitating easy control and monitoring of trailer temperature and performance via the beSmart app, Dale Brothers has opted for eight years, due to the strength of the system and its importance within their operation.
The deal was facilitated by Geoff Ward, Regional Manager for the North West, Wales and the West Midlands at Schmitz Cargobull UK & Ireland. The trailer liveries were handled by Stripe Master, in Telford.
Established as a transport business in the late 1960s by brothers Jeff and Alan Dale, and run today by cousins Robin and Neyland Dale, the firm transports meat and fresh produce. Dale Brothers recently opened a state-of the art 15,000sq ft British Retail Consortium-certified cold store at its Shropshire base to support the development of its groupage service.