Alcaline: ‘Continental Ideal in the Long Run’

International haulier Alcaline (UK) Limited has reported that it finds Continental tyres ideally suited to the sort of long-distance operation that takes its trucks deep into Italy and increasingly into Eastern Europe. From the UK, the company runs 40 tractor units and 60 trailers out of its base at Ashford in Kent, which is conveniently located for the Channel tunnel and Dover ferry port. Coiled steel, paper and automotive parts are the main products carried and the company plays a key role in the supply chain for several prestige car makers.

Almost all the trucks are DAF’s top-of-the range XF95 and XF105 two axle tractors – the latter being the current ‘International Truck of the Year’ – operating at 40 tonnes gross. Trailers are high-quality, tri-axle curtainsiders by Schmitz Cargobull, including ‘mega cube’ units of up to 104 cubic metres capacity, and all are on air suspension.

When you’re operating this quality of equipment and your vehicles are covering up to 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) a year, it’s important to get tyre selection right. Just In Time delivery schedules are not tolerant of delays and good tyre selection and management can reduce failures as well as increasing overall tyre life and contributing to better fuel efficiency.

Mick Richards, Fleet Engineer at Alcaline, says that Continentals have long been their first choice. “We specify Continentals on both trucks and trailers when new,” he says. “Sometimes the tractor units arrive with another make fitted, but we put them onto Continentals as soon as they come up for a change.

“Tyres get inspected every 12 weeks for the trailers and at six-weekly intervals for the tractors as part of normal safety checks. But our drivers are also expected to keep a close eye on them when doing their daily checks and report any signs of damage. We also have a compressor on hand so the driver can keep tyre pressures at the correct levels at all times, as this can significantly affect tyre performance and fuel consumption.”

On front axles Alcaline only ever fits new and uses Continental’s HSR tyre, which has been specifically designed for steer axles. The tread pattern ensures even ground pressure, which leads to wear being spread evenly across the face of the tyre, helping to maintain good adhesion, especially when cornering and braking.

Drive axles are fitted with the Continental HDR tyre. This has a wide and very deep tread with a closed shoulder and is designed to deliver exceptionally high mileage. The HDR can also cope well with all weather conditions. With Alcaline’s trucks running regularly as far south as Naples and making ever more frequent forays eastwards into Poland, they have to cope with a wide variety of weather conditions.

On trailers the choice is the Continental HTR. As tyres wear they’re moved progressively from the front axle to the middle and then the rear. Re-grooved tyres are occasionally used, but only ever on trailer middle axles.

“Overall I’m very satisfied with the performance of Continental tyres on our trucks and trailers,” says Mick Richards. “We get good mileage from them, they’re less prone to damage resulting from objects getting trapped in the tread, and we have very few problems with them.”

Since Alcaline was founded in 1993 it has built up a strong network of freight services right across Europe. In Italy, the company has offices in Turin, Bologna, Frosinore and Naples. There’s a sister company based at Eeede in The Netherlands. And in the UK the company operates from a modern base at Ashford.