There’s a lot more to the latest addition to the WMB Logistics fleet than meets the eye.
At first glance, our new CHEREAU tri-axle refrigerated trailer is an impressive addition to our temperature-controlled fleet. Look a little closer, however, and you’ll discover something rather unusual: this refrigerated trailer has also been purpose-built to transport motorcycles.
It is an innovative combination that brings together two areas in which WMB Logistics has extensive experience – specialist motorcycle logistics and temperature-controlled transport – within a single, highly versatile piece of equipment.
One Trailer. Two Very Different Jobs.
Built to WMB Logistics’ own specification by CHEREAU and supplied by our valued partners at the Reefer Trailer Centre, the new trailer has been designed from the outset with operational flexibility in mind.
An important part of that development involved Loaded Bikes, specialists in motorcycle and bicycle transport solutions, who worked alongside the Reefer Trailer Centre on the design and implementation of a bespoke motorcycle securing system incorporated into the trailer floor.
Its specially developed alloy floor incorporates seven dedicated securing tracks for motorcycles, together with the specially designed clamps that allow bikes to be securely restrained for transport while retaining the trailer’s ability to carry temperature-controlled loads. A two-tonne-capacity Dhollandia tail-lift provides the additional flexibility required for efficient loading and unloading.
Once its motorcycle delivery is complete, however, the same trailer can perform an entirely different role. It can collect a return load of chilled or frozen products and operate as part of WMB’s established temperature-controlled logistics fleet.
That ability to combine two traditionally very different transport requirements was central to the specification.
Making Every Journey Work Harder
For WMB Logistics, reducing the environmental impact of transport isn’t simply about adopting one particular technology. It also means looking closely at how vehicles are used and finding practical ways of making operations more efficient.
“A vehicle travelling empty still consumes fuel, adding unnecessary cost and environmental impact, which is why smarter logistics means making every journey count.”
By creating a trailer capable of delivering motorcycles on an outbound journey before collecting temperature-controlled goods for the return leg, WMB has the potential to reduce empty running and make far better use of both vehicle and driver time.
It is a straightforward idea, but one that required a highly specialised trailer to make it possible.
Rather than operating separate equipment for two different transport disciplines, this purpose-built CHEREAU gives WMB the flexibility to use one asset across both – helping increase fleet utilisation while reducing unnecessary mileage wherever suitable loads and routes can be combined.
That is good for operational efficiency, good for our customers and, importantly, better for the environment.
Bespoke Equipment for Bespoke Logistics
The project is also a good example of WMB’s approach to investing in its fleet.
Our customers rarely have identical transport requirements, and increasingly the most effective logistics solutions are those designed around the job rather than forcing the job to fit the equipment.
CHEREAU specialises in the development and manufacture of high-performance refrigerated vehicles, with a strong emphasis on innovation, customisation and sustainability. Working alongside the Reefer Trailer Centre – CHEREAU’s sole UK distributor – enabled WMB to develop a trailer specifically around the demands of our operation.
The result isn’t simply another refrigerated trailer. It is a highly specialised transport asset capable of moving two very different types of cargo safely and efficiently while giving our planning team considerably greater flexibility when matching vehicles, loads and routes.
Strong Partnerships Driving Better Solutions
Projects such as this also demonstrate the importance of the relationships WMB builds with specialist suppliers and engineering partners.
CHEREAU, the Reefer Trailer Centre and Loaded Bikes have each brought specialist expertise to the project, helping turn what began as an unusual operational requirement into a practical, working transport solution.
WMB already operates CHEREAU equipment within its temperature-controlled fleet, so this latest trailer builds upon a proven relationship while taking the specification in a very different direction.
The involvement of Loaded Bikes brought another area of specialist knowledge to the project. With a background encompassing motorsport and aerospace engineering, and extensive experience developing purpose-built motorcycle transport and securing solutions, the company worked with the Reefer Trailer Centre to develop and implement the bespoke clamp arrangement incorporated into the CHEREAU’s floor.
It is precisely the type of collaboration we value: bringing together WMB’s real-world transport experience with specialist engineering and equipment expertise to produce something genuinely useful rather than innovation simply for innovation’s sake.
Looking Towards a More Efficient Fleet
The arrival of the new trailer forms part of WMB Logistics’ wider commitment to continually improving the efficiency and environmental performance of our operations.
Reducing the ecological impact of road transport is not only about what powers a vehicle. Improvements in vehicle design, route planning and load utilisation can also make an important contribution by reducing unnecessary journeys and ensuring existing fleet capacity is used as effectively as possible.
This latest CHEREAU is a perfect example. Its bespoke dual-purpose design creates the opportunity to combine two very different transport requirements within the same journey – delivering motorcycles outbound before collecting chilled or frozen products for the return leg.
For WMB, that represents practical sustainability: making better use of our equipment, reducing opportunities for empty running and getting more productive work from the miles we travel.
We will continue to look for practical innovations that allow us to operate smarter, more efficiently and with less unnecessary environmental impact, and there could hardly be a more appropriate vehicle to demonstrate that philosophy than this one.
And Up Front? Something Rather Special Too…
Of course, a rather special trailer deserves a suitable tractor unit.
For its latest outing, the new CHEREAU was paired with T50 – WMB Logistics’ flagship Scania S770 V8.
It makes for an impressive combination, but the real story lies behind the cab: a refrigerated trailer engineered to carry motorcycles in one direction and temperature-controlled produce in the other – allowing two very different areas of WMB’s specialist transport expertise to come together in one intelligently designed piece of equipment.
Two specialist WMB services. One purpose-built trailer. Fewer opportunities for wasted journeys.
That really is cool by design!
