Special emissions-free transport specialist transports 70 water retaining bulkheads

Millenaar & van Schaik Transport is by nature a progressive transporter. In the transition from fossil to sustainable road transport, they play a pioneering role. In many infrastructure projects they prove their added value with their electric dump trucks and low loaders for special emission-free transport. This has not gone unnoticed in the market, as they will soon be transporting the 70 water retaining bulkheads of the self-closing flood barrier in Arcen.

Following in the footsteps of the picturesque Limburg village of Steyl, Arcen is also getting a self-closing flood barrier. This is a barrier with a length of almost 700 meters, consisting of 70 individual bulkheads. At normal water levels, the bulkheads are part of the backyards along the Maas, while at high tide they move up with the water level. Together, they then form an artificial dike that protects the village and its inhabitants from high water. Millenaar & van Schaik Transport will transport the bulkheads for the project combination, and they are justifiably proud of that. "Here we can combine our experience of special transport with a piece of technology," says operational director Marcel Vermeulen.

Thorough preparation

The construction of the self-closing dam was tendered by the Limburg Water Board emission-free. "So the bulkheads have to be electrically transported to the work area," says Vermeulen. "We have a lot of experience with special transport and know better than anyone how to move on an infra project, both with dump trucks and with special transport of asphalt sets and rollers, among other things. We have been doing this for many decades for contractors in road and hydraulic engineering, and for some years now we have also been doing this emission-free. The latter is an entirely different branch of sport, and certainly not for everyone," Vermeulen adds. "It requires thorough preparation. In addition to a transportation plan, it is important to make a charging plan, calculate the hours and carefully choose the charging locations. Not everywhere you can charge with an electric truck. And all that must also be factored into the exemption application. On top of that, drivers must have the necessary certificates, including ADR and TCVT certification. We have this all taken care of."

Own charging plaza

Millenaar & van Schaik Transport owns a loading bay at Fokkerweg 171 in Oude Meer. "We have 1.7 megawatts available here that has been publicly accessible by appointment since last May 1. Potentially we can charge 40 trucks here at the same time," Vermeulen says. "So we basically always drive away full. Also towards Arcen. The transport of the 70 bulkheads is split into ten transport days for which we use four trucks each time." The first trip was carried out successfully in early July; the remaining trips will follow in the coming period. "I am convinced that we will do this more often in the future," expects Vermeulen. "We are therefore very pleased with this order from Dura Vermeer." 

Meanwhile, 20 percent of the 105 tractor units at Millenaar and van Schaik are already emission-free. "Next year we will grow to 25 percent. Even though you see some cooling in the market, and the biggest hype is over, we believe that zero-emission transport is the future. In any case, we believe in it, and fortunately more and more of our partners and clients do," Vermeulen concludes.