Owner-driver Nick Smith of NJS Traction, like every other operator, is painfully aware that the cost of diesel is far and away his biggest single operating expense.

And with the price of the “liquid gold” rising inexorably, saving fuel has never been more important.

It’s no wonder then that Nick was delighted to discover his six year old Mercedes Actros 2546 gives him an extra quarter of a mile to the gallon when hitched to his new Dennison skeletal trailer.

Although this might seem a modest improvement, and it is early days yet, based on his annual mileage Nick reckons could save himself up to £1,800 at pump prices over a full year.

Nick is confident his calculations are accurate as he monitored his fuel consumption carefully during the months of July and August last year, when he was still using his old trailer, and did the same again this year with the new one.

He points out that he was the only driver both times and that he was doing exactly the same type of work, on virtually identical journeys.

And when it comes to meticulous monitoring, Nick’s credentials are impeccable. In a former life, while he was serving in the army, he was involved with the stringent testing of the Challenger Main Battle tank (MBT) at the Chobham proving ground.

So just how does Nick’s new trailer reduce consumption? The sliding bogie gooseneck skelly is basically one Dennison designed for European operation to keep below 4m height limits.

Nick realised that with a few subtle modifications it would be ideal for his UK-only container work and by reducing the overall height he was sure it would save him money.

Nick liaised closely with Dennison’s to ensure the new trailer would fit his requirements exactly. The result is a flexible and versatile unit which can carry one 40ft HC (High Cube) Tunnel container, one 40ft non-tunnel, one 20ft centrally mounted with rear discharge or two 20ft containers. It also allows him to get under a 13ft 7in bridge with a high cube box on.

The trailer is equipped with BPW 22.5 disc brakes and has automatic front and rear lift to save tyre wear. It also has Knorr Bremse EBS with roll stability and 385/55R22.5 low profile tyres.

Variable twist-lock positioning allows for differing heights depending on the length and type of container carried.

Nick says that the height could be reduced by a further 90mm if he modified his tractor with a lowered fifth wheel and cut-away mud guards. Although he doesn’t think this will lead to any further substantial fuel consumption improvements he believes it can do nothing but help.

However Nick has been running his latest Merc for six years so he may well replace it with a new lower height spec unit. But as he wryly points out, truck prices have increased dramatically since he bought his current truck!