IVECO’s Stralis X-Way is just the job for Nixon Hire

Friday 2nd November 2018

Nixon Hire has expanded its 100 per cent IVECO tanker fleet by adding three 26-tonne Stralis X-Way 6×4 rigids – amongst the first vehicles of their type to be delivered in the UK. Local dealer North East Truck & Van (NETV) secured the order thanks to the proven reliability of the IVECO heavy truck range and the payload advantage offered by the new Stralis X-Way.

The vehicles complement three Trakker rigid tankers already in service and will supply clean water to customers across a range of sectors, including agricultural and domestic services, general construction, highways, housebuilding, rail and utilities.

Graham Wood, Group Logistics Manager at Nixon Hire, says: “We know how reliable IVECO trucks are because we’ve been using them for years. But the Stralis X-Way adds another dimension to our fleet, giving us a bigger payload and even better performance for our long-distance work.”

Another key factor for Nixon Hire choosing the Stralis X-Way was the strength of IVECO’s nationwide dealer network and the availability of overnight servicing, which allows the company to minimise downtime when the trucks are needed on the road.

The vehicles have been supplied on an IVECO Elements repair and maintenance contract, structured to maximise uptime and performance over a long life. As each truck is based at different Nixon Hire depots, routine maintenance will be conducted at the nearest IVECO dealership.

Wood adds: “It makes such a difference to our operations if we can drop a truck off with a dealer at the end of the day and have it back first thing next morning. The aftersales support we get from IVECO is excellent.”

Supplied by NETV’s Billingham dealership in Stockton-on-Tees, the Stralis X-Way tankers (AT260X360Z) are powered by IVECO’s lightweight 8.7-litre Cursor 9 diesel engine, which contributes to the X-Way’s impressive payload carrying ability whilst delivering up to 360 hp and 1,650 Nm of torque.

They also offer all the advantages of the manufacturer’s patented HI-SCR emissions technology, which utilises passive regeneration of the diesel particulate filter (DPF).

As there is no need to make periodic stops for forced regeneration, the single anti-emission system increases productivity for the operator because it doesn’t need driver involvement nor downtime from active regeneration. It also helps to deliver savings in fuel consumption – and uses fewer components than rival systems, reducing the need for replacement parts.

The Stralis X-Way range’s modular construction allows vehicles to be specified to meet customer needs, be this on or off-road. Operators can choose between three homologation setups: ON, ON+ and OFF, with all models benefiting from a new front and rear suspension, new rear axles, and disc brakes all-round for enhanced stopping power and lower maintenance costs.

Nixon Hire has chosen the ON+ version for all three vehicles, which offers on-road homologation but with higher approach angles and ground clearance, plus improved bumper protection – for the best performance over the last mile.

Expected to remain in service with Nixon Hire for up to seven years, each vehicle will clock up 50,000 miles annually and be on the road five days a week. They have been specified with a sleeper cab for its regional missions, with the cab designed around the driver for greater comfort, ergonomics and safety, and fitted with 360° cameras to improve blind-spot visibility.

They also benefit from some of IVECO’s most advanced features, including the new Hi-TRONIX automated transmission and the new HI-MUX electrical system, which offers improved reliability and increased data management.

Other latest generation technologies on board the Stralis X-Way include IVECO’s HI-CRUISE integrated drive system, which uses GPS to enable predictive cruise control and gear-shifting for the most effective fuel-saving. This is the same proven technology used to reduce total cost of ownership in IVECO’s flagship Stralis XP tractor units.

Nixon Hire is a long-established provider of plant tools, accommodation units, portable toilets and site equipment to hire. Its network of depots is spread across northern England and Scotland.