Qube pioneers double stacked container vehicle

A double stacked container vehicle has been trialled for the first time on port and public roads in Australia.

The Super B-double Double Stacked vehicle was operated by Qube as part of a trial conducted under stringent safety and operational conditions at the Port of Brisbane.

Both the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) oversaw the trial which involved the vehicle carrying eight empty twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) containers on a defined route within Qube’s port facilities and limited public port roads.

The trial was conducted under a temporary permit from the NHVR and temporary consent granted by PBPL as the Port’s road manager.

The Super B was pulled by a Scania prime mover.

Nicknamed ‘the London Project’ in homage to London’s iconic double decker buses, the high productivity vehicles have the potential to increase operational efficiencies, given their ability to move 12 TEUs at a time.

Qube also expects the double stacked triple trailing units produced by O’Phee Trailers and the Drake Group, will lower emissions by eliminating truck movements.

PBPL CEO, Neil Stephens, congratulated all who were involved on the successful trial which followed a significant period of design, engineering and consultation by Qube with its stakeholders, including PBPL.

“This is a fantastic outcome for Qube and all parties involved today. It’s also a clear demonstration of the collaboration and innovation being achieved by our customers and partners here at the Port that’s enhancing productivity and efficiency in their operations,” said Stephens.

“As Port Manager, one of our key priorities is investing in infrastructure to support supply chain efficiency,” he said.

“We were pleased to deliver road improvement works and upgrade the access/egress to a number of facilities to support this new vehicle and Qube’s innovation.”

Under its current permit and consent conditions, the new double stacked vehicle will transport empty containers on a defined route within Qube’s facility and limited public port roads, under stringent safety and operational conditions.