The Delivery Co has appointed ATS Euromaster to manage the tyres across its mixed fleet of DAF, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo commercial vehicles on a pence-per-kilometre (PPK) contract.
The agreement will see ATS Euromaster support the company's fleet of 350 trucks with 30 distribution centres across the UK.
Monthly fleet inspections will also be carried out using ATS Euromaster's EDC2 electronic data capture system, which allows its technicians to record each tyre's condition and tread depth onto a small handheld computer. Results are then uploaded via mobile phone to a central database and emailed to The Delivery Co's local ATS Euromaster service centre, which co-ordinates any tyre replacements or service work that is required.
"With 30 depots across the UK and a mixed fleet of 350 vehicles operating from 7.5 to 44 tonnes, tyre purchasing, repairs or related services have the potential to be a headache," explains Steve Rootes, The Delivery Co National Fleet Manager.
"The biggest benefit of a PPK tyre contract is that we are able to strategically plan purchasing and maintenance while reducing costs, which is expected to lead to substantial savings across the fleet."
As a major fleet customer, The Delivery Co also benefits from ATS Euromaster's centralised UK-wide authorisation system, guaranteeing that regardless of a vehicle's location when a tyre is required, the correct brand and specification is fitted every time.
"The fleet operates across a variety of environments from punishing inner cities where tyres carry weight over short distances and can easily suffer sidewall damage, to rural locations on major trunking routes. Knowing the correct tyres are fitted to the right vehicle and knowing in advance what we are paying is a big bonus," added Mr Rootes.
The contract will also see ATS Euromaster support a 7.5 tonne Smith & Newton rigid bodied electric truck in The Delivery Co fleet - believed to be the only such curtain-sided vehicle in the country - which is used to make deliveries in the centre of London.
"We are making it easier for drivers with the introduction of a one-call policy for tyre-related issues. All they need to do is contact a central number and everything is taken care of from repair to billing with ATS Euromaster - it makes life so much easier," concludes Mr Rootes.
The contract will see Pirelli and Vacu-Lug tyres fitted across The Delivery Co fleet, supported by ATS Euromaster's 250 frontline rapid response vehicles, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide emergency roadside assistance in the event of a tyre-related breakdown. These vehicles are supported by a further 950 mobile service vans, which carry out routine tyre maintenance at a customer's own premises.
The Delivery Co was established in 2006, as a strategic initiative to consolidate the well-established logistics operations of PaperlinX's three UK paper merchants. It is recognised as one of the largest paper and plastic distribution businesses in the UK, carrying stock for same-day and next day delivery throughout the country. In addition, vehicles are fitted with online POD technology to enable a track and trace facility in real-time.