News
FLEETLOOP: Articulated lorries can now also be hired online
FLEETLOOP, the digital rental platform for commercial vehicles, is expanding its range of services. The platform is a joint venture between Schmitz Cargobull and the commercial vehicle rental company Greiwing. Until now, FLEETLOOP has exclusively rented out semi-trailers, tippers, refrigerated bodies, dry freight bodies and curtainsiders. From now on, haulage contractors and transport companies can also rent two-axle tractor units. Booking takes less than five minutes: on my.fleetloop.com – simply register, choose a depot, and specify the vehicle and hire period. Collection is contactless, available round the clock, seven days a week, and – if required – with a suitable semi-trailer provided straight away. This allows you to cope with vehicle breakdowns, seasonal peaks or large-scale orders at short notice without the need for significant investment.
Some of the tractor units come from PACCAR Leasing (PacLease), the truck hire division of DAF’s parent company, PACCAR. Through this new partnership, a large number of DAF Trucks vehicles are now available. Greiwing is contributing further tractor units from its own hire fleet. At the same time, the semi-trailer fleet is expanding by around 200 vehicles, including S.CU refrigerated semi-trailers, S.CS curtainsiders and S.KI construction material tippers with insulated bodies for asphalt. With the new depots in Kassel and Dieburg in Hesse, the total number of depots across Germany rises to 16.
GT Trailers: Aluminium through-load trailer reduces operating costs
For divisible, high-volume dry cargo, GT Trailers offers a through-load combination as an alternative to the traditional articulated lorry. The Polish manufacturer, in which Schmitz Cargobull holds a 48 per cent stake, combines a tractor unit with a centre-axle trailer for this purpose. Optionally, a certified through-load platform with a load capacity of 5,500 kilograms connects the two loading areas. The combination can carry up to 15 tonnes of payload, with up to 7.5 tonnes on both the tractor unit and the trailer. It offers more load volume per unit than a standard semi-trailer and is suitable for palletised consumer and industrial goods, as well as for factory transport with predictable volume flows.
The basis is GT Trailers’ own aluminium profile system. Compared with conventional designs, this lightweight construction saves around one litre of fuel per 100 kilometres. Over 120,000 kilometres a year, that amounts to around 1,200 litres. Instead of the five axles commonly found on a semi-trailer combination, the through-load trailer manages with just three axles. This reduces toll costs. The aluminium requires no additional corrosion protection, and damaged components can be easily repaired. Options available include the STABIX anti-rollover system, a roof lifting system and a tail lift. GT Trailers also supplies the design in a steel version.
Cargobull Mobile Service: First partners honoured
Under the slogan “More.Vans. More.Value.”, Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull AG, personally honoured the first Cargobull Mobile Service Partners at IAA Transportation 2026. The partners repair trailers and refrigeration units of all makes directly at the customer’s premises. “Our partners make a crucial contribution to the success of the Cargobull Mobile Service,” emphasised Schmitz during the ceremony.
Customers can access the Mobile Service round the clock. Prioritised dispatch management speeds up assistance, reduces downtime and ensures transport operations remain stable. Following its expansion in the DACH region, Schmitz Cargobull is gradually extending the network to other European markets. Customers can find their nearest partner using the Mobile Service search on cargobull.com. The team is available to answer any questions at mobileservice@cargobull.com.
Checkturio: A complete vehicle history via the app
The Berlin-based software company Checkturio digitises vehicle inspections and damage documentation for truck and trailer fleets. Schmitz Cargobull supports the company, which was founded in 2022. Drivers use the mobile app to work through configurable checklists for pre-departure checks, handover procedures and damage reports. Photos and inspection results, complete with timestamps, are linked to the relevant vehicle in the fleet manager’s central web dashboard.
AI models detect potential damage in the photos. Before submission, the system checks whether similar damage has already been documented for the same vehicle. This prevents duplicate entries. The app works both online and offline, supports 19 languages and requires no additional hardware in the vehicle. More than 3,500 vehicles are actively registered on the platform, and over 10,000 inspection and damage reports are generated every month.
Heylog: Managing truck arrivals via WhatsApp
Traffic jams outside the factory gates in the morning, idle time at the loading bays in the afternoon: time-slot systems make deliveries predictable, but they do not control them. That is why the Viennese yard operations platform Heylog focuses on the driver. It contacts them via WhatsApp or text message, or via a link or QR code at the gate. No app, login or training is required. This channel handles registration, checking the actual arrival time, safety briefings, site maps, ramp allocation and delivery receipts – all automatically translated into over 24 languages.
The dispatch system anticipates delays before the truck arrives at the gate and adjusts the order accordingly. There are no booking fees or licence costs for freight forwarders and hauliers. The system can be implemented without the need for on-site hardware. Schmitz Cargobull uses the platform itself. Both companies were jointly represented at IAA Transportation 2026.
Van Hool Industrial Vehicles: Debut for PULL LOAD
At Outdoor Pavilion 33 of the IAA Transportation 2026, Van Hool Industrial Vehicles unveiled the prototype of a box-type tipper semi-trailer with a PULL LOAD unloading system for the first time. The system revolutionises the unloading of bulk goods. Instead of tipping, it pushes the load horizontally out of the semi-trailer. A blade moves from front to back, ensuring controlled, even unloading. The drive is provided by a pull box at the front end, which pulls a cable that runs through the semi-trailer in a closed loop.
The mechanism has no lubrication points and requires no regular maintenance during normal operation. This reduces downtime, maintenance costs and total cost of ownership. At the same time, unloading is faster and safer. “PULL LOAD is a good example of the direction we want to take with Van Hool: practical innovation that delivers real more value for our customers,” says David De Vits, Head of Sales at Van Hool Industrial Vehicles.
