AO makes multi-million pound fleet investment

AO is making a major investment in improving the capacity of its fleet while cutting carbon emissions.

The electric retailer is investing more than £2 million in transitioning its fleet of tractor units from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) with a goal to have 90% of its vehicles running on CNG by 2030.

AO originally purchased 10 CNG tractor units in 2022 and the Bolton-based company has now brought 10 more into its fleet.

To couple with the tractor units, AO has also acquired 20 longer moving deck double deck semi-trailers (LSTs) from Cheshire business Tiger Trailers.

The LSTs are 2.05 metres longer than the standard trailers used by AO, allowing for a 10% increase in capacity, as appliances can be double stacked on both lower and upper decks, as well as loaded four products wide if desired.

David Ashwell, group logistics director at AO, said: “We are proud to be continuing our move to a more sustainable future that will hopefully see 90% of our fleet running on CNG by 2030.

“These tractor units and the new LSTs allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and save on costs. Crucially it significantly increases our capacity, which enables us to deliver even better service to our customers.”

The LSTs are the sixth generation of design supplied by Tiger over a nine-year period.

Darren Holland, sales director of Tiger Trailers, said: “It’s great to work with the entire AO team and we look forward to enhancing the current builds into the next generation at each enquiry stage.

“The evolution from the original trailers supplied in 2015 that gave an increase of 14% in load capacity back then to the new trailers which are gaining a further 10% is great to see.”

The new LSTs, supplied in AO’s green vinyl livery, will carry large appliances between the company’s warehouse in Crewe and its delivery bases across the UK. It takes the total number of Tiger-built vehicles in its fleet to over 300.