Westons Cider has taken delivery of the new 18-tonne curtainsider, bodied by Bevan Group. It is based at Westons Cider’s headquarters in Herefordshire.

The truck’s smooth-sided, buckleless body is ideal for multi-drop applications, said Westons Cider, allowing the load bed to be more quickly accessed than is possible with a conventional, buckled curtainsider. 

The vehicle is also Westons Cider’s first to be fitted with a new, roof-retractable load retention system developed by Simark Engineering, of Rowley Regis.

Compatible with the latest DVSA health and safety standards, this allows the operative to pull the retaining net down and over the product, then tension it, from ground level, without having to climb onto the back of the truck. 

The drinks supplier already has a fleet of 20 trucks, comprised of 18 and 26-tonne rigids with bodies made by Bevan, and 44-tonne tractor units.

David Griffiths, operations director at Westons Cider, said: “We’re not a company that swaps suppliers for the sake of it.

“So as long as we get good service, which we always do from Bevan, we’ll remain loyal to those with whom we do business.

“I have known and worked with Bevan’s drinks industry specialist,  Martyn Reeves for more than 20 years and his company’s design standards and build quality are first class, as are the turnaround times and after sales support.

“Our Bevan-bodied vehicles also look great, and particularly the new one.

“It serves as a great mobile advertisement for our best-known brand and has already attracted a lot of positive feedback from customers and others who’ve seen it on the road."