Global logistics leader DHL has launches a new concept in airline catering vehicles with the ‘Double Decker High-Loader’. The vehicle design[1] brings a 70% increase in capacity over traditional high-loaders with no increase in overall dimensions on the road.

With customers increasingly requiring long haul catering service support, DHL set about optimizing efficiency throughout the long haul supply chain. A key objective was to increase the capacity of the High-Loader while complying with global operating standards which set restrictions on height, length and width.
Working with High-Loader specialist Mallaghan Engineering, DHL devised a new design which meets all current length, height and width restrictions in transit, but whose roof rises during loading and unloading to provide operators with a safe working height of 1.8m.

Thanks to lower fuel costs and other improvements, the new design is predicted to cut operating costs by around 20 percent.

Speaking at the unveiling of the new design, Paul Richardson, Managing Director Specialist Services, DHL Supply Chain said: “As part of our ‘GoGreen’ program, we are committed to delivering significant environmental improvements for our customers. The ‘Double Decker High-Loader’ is the latest in a series of innovations we have introduced in recent years, including the teardrop trailer – now a familiar sight on UK roads – and our award-winning “Rail Kit” which has shifted over 300,000 general merchandise products a week from road to rail, cutting 750,000 road miles and saving over 800 tons of CO2 every year. The initial response from our customers suggests the new ‘Double Decker High-Loader’ is set to have an equally dramatic impact.”