Leading logistics and distribution operator in the ambient and chilled sectors, Fowler Welch, has ordered 130 new MAN trucks, 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 trucks will replace around a third of the three-year old Fowler Welch fleet. All meet European EURO-5 legislations on emissions and are fitted with state-of-the-art telematics systems that deliver real-time information to the operator on individual vehicle and driver performances as well as overall fleet performance. On top of this, the company is also to trial Euro-6 compliant vehicles from MAN, as part of a wider review to assess performance and cost-efficiencies.
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 possible. Now, ambient product producers are also looking for the 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 maintain our high standards and tackle both new demands and new customers without any problem."
The new trucks, MAN TGX 26.440 XLX models, 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 'Big brother is watching you!'" says Allera. "What we are doing is 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 from us, but increasingly we need to report on our environmental practices and this is a key part of managing those."