Johnson Haulage has added four new KRONE Profi Liner HD flatbed trailers to its fleet.
Established in 1977 and based in East Yorkshire, the family-run transport firm specialises in general haulage and heavy-duty plant and machinery transport in the UK and Europe. Its fleet comprises 24 trucks and 54 trailers and it also operates a storage yard.
As transport manager Wayne Johnson explains, that was how the company first got a look at the new Profi Liner HD.
“We already had some KRONE trailers on the fleet that we’d purchased second-hand,” he explains, “So we were also familiar with the product.
“We needed a couple more trailers adding to the fleet anyway, because we were looking to replace some older ones. KRONE have always been easy to deal with, so we just rang them up and asked about the new ones.”
The Profi Liner HD flatbed is the latest addition to KRONE’s flatbed range. Designed for use in demanding transport applications, particularly for export markets, the trailers feature a reinforced chassis with 15,000kg load coupling and 24,000kg bogie to suit UK 44t applications.
The Profi Liners come with premium 385/65R22.5 super single tyres and KRONE Smart Tyre Monitoring c/w TPMS system which, conforming to regulation UN ECE R-141 (mandatory from July 6th 2024) identifies tyre pressure & temperature.
Other key features include a heavy-duty BPW 420x200mm drum brake axle assembly as standard, complete with reinforced parking brake (spring brake chambers) on all 3 axles and an additional air tank.
For optimum load security, the heavy-duty 225mm deep side raves have side rave holes for strapping at 1m intervals, with 13 pairs of rope hooks under each side.
Also included for Johnson’s are the optional PSK twist locks for container loading and 9 pairs sockets in the outer frame, to suit 80mm x 80mm TATA -specification posts. The trailers come with hardwood, omega floors and rear access steps as standard.
Other options available on request include toolbox, timber and tarp stowage, fall arrest systems and 3 point of contact posts – at the rear steps.
Johnson has found the post sockets especially useful: “They’re really handy for when we’re transporting steel, because you can put the safety pins along the sides,” says Wayne, “there’s also a specially built storage rail on the chassis for when you’re not using them, so you just lift them out, lock them in, and they’re neatly stashed away.”
In addition to steel, the company often transports cumbersome cargo such as pallets, timber and bricks. According to Wayne, the Profi Liner HD’s low loading height is particularly useful for the former.
“The deck height isn’t too high,” he explains, “some flatbeds can stand about five feet tall, which obviously reduces what you can fit on the trailer in terms of overall height. We do a lot of pallets, which are usually stacked quite high, and this trailer is quite a bit lower than a lot of others unladen, which is especially useful for us. It’s also handy for getting your straps over – the lower they are, the fewer tree branches you’re dodging!
“They’re good trailers, well-built and with a good paint finish, and all the drivers seem to love them because they’re easy to use. They weren’t overpriced and KRONE is really easy to deal with. After we purchased it, we had it on the road the next day.”
