Enterprise Flex-E-Rent has become the first United Kingdom rental business to offer the highly specialist Multilift Commander container-handling Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) and is providing 14 vehicles to the joint venture between Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall (EKFB) for use on the central section of the High Speed 2 rail project.

The Hiab-built 32 tonne Multilift Commander (with Mercedes chassis) unit concept has previously only been used in the U.K. by the military. They are specially designed to augment the traditional hook-lift system that is commonplace in the waste industry.

The design adds the ability to pick up, move and deliver ISO shipping containers or a similar-sized cargo in any location that a truck can access without the use of a crane or other lifting operations. This is particularly useful in very remote sites where it is difficult to get mechanical handling equipment in place.

The Multilift Commander hook-lift system enables the driver to load and unload the cargo at the push of a button - taking only a few minutes, and without any additional vehicles or any of the safety risks that come from cargo hanging in the air from a crane.

The 14 vehicles being hired by EKFB are split between the 5-Star Direct Vision Standard (DVS)-rated Mercedes-Benz Econic and the Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3240 K 8x4 chassis with a top, 3-Star DVS safety rated S-cab 3.

They are fitted with an array of the latest safety equipment, including Advanced Brake Assist 5, Stability Control, onboard cameras and tracking systems, and features ranging from headlamp mesh guards to puddle lights. They add to the more than 300 other commercial vehicles EKFB already hires from Enterprise.