Maxi-Cube delivers 26 Pallet PBS trailer to Fruithaul

[kscarbel2]

Australasian Transport News / July 10, 2014

Fruithaul begins using new 26-pallet PBS-approved trailer.

Queensland fruit and vegetable carrier Fruithaul has started using a new refrigerated trailer approved under the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme in a bid to increase productivity.

The Maxi-Cube built unit is capable of carrying 26 pallets – two more than a conventional trailer – and is the first of its kind to gain PBS approval in Queensland.

The PBS scheme allows operators to use innovative vehicle and trailer designs as long as they meet a number of safety and operational conditions.

"Fruithaul’s 26-pallet refrigerated trailer has two extra pallet spaces when compared with a standard 24-pallet trailer, which translates into greater profit per load for operators," Trailer Sales manager Scott Thiesfield, who sold the trailer to Fruithaul, says.

Fruithaul owner Matt Vallance found out about the idea of the larger trailer when talking with a sub-contractor from Victoria.

"When he told me how the PBS scheme allowed him to tow longer-than-usual trailers, I asked Scott Thiesfield from Trailer Sales in Brisbane how I could go about trialling one myself," Vallance says.

Thiesfield has been a supplier to Fruithaul for a number of years and helped Vallance through the process of getting the correct specifications for the trailer and applying for PBS.

"While Fruithaul has been the trailblazer in this instance, this is just the beginning of the take-up of PBS in the van sector. The bulk transport sector has been making use of PBS solutions for a number of years and the rest of the transport industry is just starting to sit up and take notice of the benefits as well," Thiesfield says.

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[Green Dash]

Any idea how long these trailers are?

[j_martell]

2 extra skid places would be about another 5'......

[mrsmackpaul]

I reckon they would be up near 54 feet long maybe just over by a couple if inches every standard pallet we use is 4 foot square so 26 divided by 2 equals 13 pallets up each side 13 times it by 4 equals 52 then I suppose you would have to add a couple of feet for the fridge unit up the front it might be 54 feet ?

Paul

just a bit more useless information Maxicube is Fruehauf in Australia and I reckon that happened back in the early ninetys Im guess they are still Fruehauf in the states if not disregard my waffle seeya

[Green Dash]

Okay. The reason I asked is that when I hauled WalMart groceries we loaded 26 pallets in a 3 compartment reefer, but then I remembered those were 4-way Chep pallets which were 48x40 and could be pinwheeled.

[MaxiTRANS Australia]

Any idea how long these trailers are?

Hi Jim. They are 53 foot reefer trailers operating under the Australian Performance Based Standards Scheme.

[MaxiTRANS Australia]

I reckon they would be up near 54 feet long maybe just over by a couple if inches every standard pallet we use is 4 foot square so 26 divided by 2 equals 13 pallets up each side 13 times it by 4 equals 52 then I suppose you would have to add a couple of feet for the fridge unit up the front it might be 54 feet ?

Paul

just a bit more useless information Maxicube is Fruehauf in Australia and I reckon that happened back in the early ninetys Im guess they are still Fruehauf in the states if not disregard my waffle seeya

Hi Paul,

Maxi-CUBE is a standalone brand, untied to the Fruehauf brand in other countries. It is one of Australia & New Zealand's leading refrigerated & dry freight van brands.

MaxiTRANS, the company which manufactures Maxi-CUBE trailers, used to produce Fruehauf trailers for the Australian market but hasn't for some time now.