“Since we mainly drive cardboard packaging, which only weighs very little, we can carry 56 percent more load per trip with the long HGV and still not exceed the 40-ton limit,” emphasised Alexander Hotz.
Four times a day the Giga Liner, a combination of a 2-axle Mega Liner with steering axle and a 2-axle central chassis with swap body, goes on the defined, approximately 62 km long route between Offenbach and Pirmasens, which is about 2500 km per week. Less trips and more cargo lead to at least 20 percent CO₂ savings, Alexander and Toni Hotz calculate.
The two entrepreneurs were also positively surprised by the very good curve running characteristics of the long HGV, the weight distribution as well as the braking distance. Since the braking force is distributed to several axles, the braking distance of the vehicle is significantly reduced. As measurements by the German Federal Highway Research Institute show, the braking distance for a long HGV at 80 km/h is 36 metres. In comparison, a standard truck needs 44 metres to come to a stop. “And last but not least, the long truck also scores points when it comes to ground pressure; roads and bridges are subjected to less stress thanks to the distribution of the weight over several axles,” says Toni Hotz.
On behalf of the Krone team, Regional Sales Manager Markus Gemmel thanked the company for the friendly and trusting business relationship, which has now been in existence for almost 25 years. “There are numerous arguments in favour of the long HGV, especially in times of the current climate discussion, and we are very pleased that Toni Hotz Transporte benefits so much from using the Giga Liner”.
