NEWS OPERATORS
10 TRUCKING Summer 2019 http://www.truckingmag.co.uk
W
oodland
Logistics
reckons it has
achieved a 10
per cent
improvement in fuel economy
since it began equipping its
Mercedes-Benz trucks with
Predictive Powertrain Control
(PPC) and embarked on a major
programme of driver training.
Woodland Logistics operates a
fleet of 138 trucks, all of which are
Mercs. Most are tractor units,
although the line-up includes 34
rigids, a combination of 18- and
26-tonners.
Last year alone, Woodland’s
local Mercedes-Benz dealer,
Sparshatt Truck & Van, supplied it
with 40 new Actros tractors for
work on a variety of contracts.
All 2545 models with BigSpace
cabs and 450 bhp, 12.8-litre
OM471 straight-six engines, they
also came with Safety Packs,
Fleetboard telematics and
Uptime predictive maintenance
technology.
The operator said it decided to
put PPC to the test 18 months
ago, while simultaneously
committing additional resources toNEWS IN BRIEF
New DAFs for
Amazon contract
Asset Alliance Group has delivered a
fleet of 56 new tractor units to Cross
Transport for operation on its contract
with e-commerce business, Amazon.
The full-service contract hire deal,
valued at approximately £4.5 million,
sees the supply of a new fleet of DAF
XF tractors with Super Space Cabs
replacing older assets. Dean Cross,
Cross Transport MD, said: “This is a
substantial order for a key part of our
business. Initially, the Amazon contract
required a bigger fleet – and fast – and
Asset Alliance Group came through and
delivered.” Each new DAF is expected
to cover 140,000 km annually, with the
contract hire agreement including all
safety inspections, maintenance,
servicing and repairs. They will support
Cross Transport’s contract with
Amazon, delivering customer orders
throughout the UK and Europe from its
Nuneaton depot.PGS ponies up
Birmingham-based haulier PGS Global
Logistics is making a £1.25 million
investment in new vehicles and building
a new garage and workshop to carry
out its own maintenance. The company
has recently added two Volvo FH
Globetrotter tractor units to its fleet and
is awaiting the delivery of 12 lorry
trailers and eight Mercedes-Benz
Sprinter vans. The total spend on these
new vehicles is £1 million, and PGS
said it was also ploughing £250,
into building a new workshop and
garage to enable it to carry out all
maintenance on its own vehicles
on-site, saving money and time.
“This is a hugely exciting time for the
whole PGS family,” said PGS founder
and MD, Paul Eyles. “We, like many
British companies, were reluctant to
spend large amounts of money due to
the many concerns which existed over
Brexit and what lay ahead. But we feel
the time is now right to invest in our
company and its future. We are very
excited about the new vehicles we have
coming, and our new workshop and
garage will be of huge benefit to us.”
The company is constructing a new
building to house its workshop and
garage and reckons the project will be
built and operational by October.to 10 per cent, which clearly
represents a very substantial cost
saving,” said Woodland Logistics
MD, Sean Kirby.
“Our Actros tractors now
typically return in excess of 10
mpg. That’s a very good figure,
but what’s most pleasing is that
rather than only being achieved
by the very best drivers, we’re
seeing it consistently across the
fleet as a whole.”
Woodland operates from
headquarters in Chelmsford, and
other hubs in Coventry and Hayes.its driver training programme.
PPC employs 3D GPS mapping
to read 3 km of topography ahead,
then responds by managing
speed, braking and the
transmission to maximise fuel
efficiency. The system is
particularly effective when the
vehicle is travelling up or down
hills, by applying gearshifts at an
early stage and making full use of
the EcoRoll function.
“As a direct result of these
initiatives, we’ve seen typical
improvements in economy of upRANGE T460 TRACTOR UNITS BOOST CULINA FLEET
PPC & DRIVER TRAINING
DELIVERS 10% ECO BOOST
AT WOODLANDS
Robsons business in Spalding,
Lincolnshire.
The new Range Ts will be
trunking all over the UK, delivering
goods for some of the world’s
leading brands and manufacturers,
own-label products as well as
developing companies.
“We already have 60+ Range Ts
on the fleet and the vehicles’
reliability record speaks for itself,”
said Culina’s group fleet manager,
Mark Matkin.
The T460s have been brought in
specifically to support CulinaGroup’s aim to provide clients
with a robust supply chain
platform. “Our market is tough,
but as a business we are
performing well and we like how
the Range Ts have slotted
seamlessly into our operation,”
Matkin said.
Driver satisfaction was another
important consideration, and the
trucks have been thoughtfully
spec’d with optional extras
including microwaves, phone
systems, ‘ultimate’ upper bunk
that can be transformed into
additional storage, articulated
LED lamps in the bunk area and
24L ‘quiet’ fridges for the drivers
who live in them during the week.
They have also been fitted
with air-suspended, heated
driver’s seat with adjustable
lumbar support and seat
cushion extension, one-touch
electric windows, comfort air
conditioning, leather steering
wheel with cruise and
telephone control.U
K and Ireland chilled and
ambient food and drink
warehousing, distribution
and transport specialist, Culina
Group, has added eight new
Renault Range T460 6x2s to its
1000+ tractor unit and 2000+
trailer fleet.
Supplied by BRS Ltd on a full
contract hire package including
maintenance, tax and tyres and a
mileage inclusion of 160,000 km/
pa, these latest additions join 60+
other Range Ts on the fleet and
will be operating out of itsWoodlands MD said its latest Actros
are achieving over 10 mpgCulina said its drivers rate
Range T460s 6x2s highly