FREIGHT company Simon National Freight Carriers has invested in some interesting new trucks.

The five new IVECO Eurocargo ML160 are expected to boost performance in safety, compliance and the environment.

The new trucks are fitted with tautliner bodies and are to be shortly put to work in general freight applications in the greater Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide metropolitan areas.

Simon National Carriers national operations manager, Michael West, said it was the first time the company had purchased IVECO medium duty trucks.

“We’ve previously operated some of the larger IVECO trucks, but never in the medium duty section of our fleet,” Mr West said.

“The Eurocargo was extremely attractive to us particularly from a safety and emissions perspective, they have features and equipment that our current Japanese models can’t match.”

The new Eurocargos are powered by a Euro six-cylinder engine producing 280hp and 1000Nm of torque.

Although the Eurocargo is imported (IVECO currently makes ACCO, X-Way and selected Stralis models at its Melbourne manufacturing facility), Mr West said it was important to support local manufacturers.

“As a long-term privately-owned Australian company, Simon National Carriers really values local businesses and local manufacturing,” he said.