Lawsons, one of the best known builders merchants in the area, ordered the truck as part of a major re-organisation of the site, which involved building a new warehouse and installing new racking in the outside yard.

The Sidetracker, which replaced a conventional sideloader, has allowed aisles and turning areas in the yard to be reduced and more racking to be installed. The low deck height of 410mm gives full access to all vertical rack locations. The ability to work reliably outside is another important feature.

'The site is very compact, so it has to be well organised and we have to use the space efficiently. The Sidetracker enables us to do that', said area manager Jim Murphy. 'We can now stock 25 to 30 per cent more than before'.

The Sidetracker, which can travel in any direction and turn through 360 on the spot, has twin high-torque electric motors which operate through a single drive wheel. The quiet electro-hydraulic drive system provides reliable outside operation in all weathers without disturbing the residential neighbourhood.