Leading logistics and distribution operator in the ambient and chilled sectors, Fowler Welch, has ordered 130 new MAN TGX 26.440 XLX Euro-5 tractor units, to bring its fleet up to peak operational and environmental efficiency to meet growing demand from numbers of major food producers and leading retailers.
The new MAN’s will replace around one third of the company’s three-year old Volvo fleet.
On top of this, the company is also to take five Euro-6 vehicles from MAN, as part of a wider trial to assess comparative performance and cost-efficiencies.
Talking about the new MAN trucks, Fowler Welch Fleet Manager, Paul Allera, said: “Our customers in the chilled sector have always relied on us to meet their ‘Day One for Day Two’ schedules, and that means keeping our fleet as efficient and closely-monitored as we can.
“Now, ambient product producers are also looking for those same high levels of expertise and logistics efficiency we bring to chilled products, and ‘Day One for Day Two’ is being requested more and more by this part of the market. With these new fleet replacements we can build on our high standards and tackle both new demands and new customers without any problem.”
The new MAN TGX 26.440 tractors all feature MAN EcoStyle telematics, which apart from all the location and delivery information, looks closely at individual driver and vehicle performances. “This isn’t a case of drivers having to think, ‘Big brother is watching us!’” says Allera. “We are simply ensuring our trucks are driven efficiently and safely and that we are taking every possible step to reduce our carbon and other emissions. Customers expect reliability and efficiency as a matter of course from us, but increasingly we also need to account for our environmental practices and this is a key part of managing those.
“Overall though, our decision has been based on MAN’s ability to offer us eye-catching trucks that will deliver a very acceptable overall performance in terms of fuel-efficiency and up-time, backed by a good dealer network and aftersales package. On top of that, and just as important to the efficient running of the fleet, our drivers like them!”
http://www.commercialmotor.com/transport-news-brief/fowler-welch-takes-man-fleet
