By: Creamer media

The performance-based standards (PBS) smart trucks – abnormal load vehicles – will strengthen the company’s delivery fleet through a partnership with logistics group DP World, says the glass manufacturer.

Each of the smart trucks can carry 100 pallets – 28 more than the trucks in the existing fleet – with a 55 t payload capability and an overall laden length of 30 m.

The engines are powered by both diesel and compressed natural gas.

According to DP World's analysis, the vehicles will cause roughly 50% less road wear per ton of payload.

They are also expected to deliver a 37% reduction in carbon emissions per pallet shipped.

“These state-of-the-art vehicles represent a major leap forward in transportation efficiency and safety for our operations,” says Ardagh Glass Packaging-Africa CEO Paul Curnow.

“The smart trucks feature innovative designs that deliver improved productivity, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact and infrastructure wear.

“Over the next six years, we estimate these vehicles will eliminate approximately 1.7-million kilometres of travel, and prevent 1.765 t of carbon emissions, supporting our sustainability strategy and efforts to reduce emissions.”

The trucks also include electronic brake systems on all of the Afrit-made trailers, auto-inflating tyres, as well as a self-weighing functionality.

The vehicles also feature adaptive cruise control, dynamic and corrective steering systems, driver-alert support, lane-departure warnings and lane-change support.

Ardagh Glass Packaging–Africa was established in 2022 when the Ardagh Group acquired Consol Glass.