Fleet deals: New vehicles join Hunts Food, Asset Alliance, Noble Logistics, FridgeXpress, Cemex and XPO Logistics

Hunts Food Group adds more capacity to its fleet

Dorset-based Hunts Food Group, which manufactures, sells and delivers food products, will add 25 new vehicles to its already 75-strong fleet.

The new additions to the fleet include 12 Mercedes Benz light commercial vehicles (LCVs), which are on the road now, and 13 new DAF vehicles ranging from 12 to 18 tonnes, which are currently being designed and built and are due to be delivered later this year.

All vehicles will be using Carrier Supra refrigeration units with Dhollandia 1,500 kg tail lifts featuring on nine of the fleet.

The vehicles will also use Solomon's aerodynamic Slipstream systems to ensure optimum fuel efficiency and have Ark camera safety systems as standard.

Phil Hopkins, Hunts' transport director, said: "As a leading business in our industry, our products must be transported to their destination quickly and efficiently while maintaining our strict food quality standards.

“We rely on Solomon Commercials to provide us with the best temperature-controlled vehicles to meet the needs of the business, and we trust their guidance and advice."

The partnership between Solomon and Hunts Food Group stretches over a six-year period. Colin Carter, sales manager at Solomon Commercials, added: “Hunts is a fantastic business with a great heritage, and in addition to delivering a first-class service to its customers, it also plays an important part in the community in which it operates.

“Furthermore, the business has an eye on the future, pushing toward being carbon net zero by 2035 operating sustainably and responsibly.”

Noble Logistics enhances fleet with new HGVs

Noble Foods has announced a significant upgrade to its dedicated logistics business, with a brand-new HGV fleet aimed at improving efficiency and reliability.

After thorough evaluations and trials involving several vehicle manufacturers, it has selected Renault for its logistics division.

The rollout of the new vehicles is set to be completed by September, with an additional 20 trucks scheduled for delivery.

The multi-million pound expansion will bring Noble Logistics' fleet total to 58 new vehicles.

"This upgrade underscores our dedication to providing reliable and efficient transportation solutions,” said Nick Williams, transport manager at Noble Logistics.

“Ours is 365-day operation and we’re always conscious of the areas we can make improvements in – both large and small scale.

“With the introduction of these new Renault vehicles, we feel proud of our ongoing efforts to optimise our operations and deliver enhanced value to our network.”

North West Trucks expands parts delivery fleet

DAF dealer North West Trucks, part of the Greenhous Group, has announced the expansion of its parts delivery fleet in Merseyside and Cheshire from 10 to 17 vans, with plans to add two more in the near future.

The strategic enhancement is part of ongoing investments by Greenhous Group to strengthen operations and provide excellent service and customer care.

Covering Merseyside and Cheshire, the parts vans deliver both DAF and TRP All-Makes parts and workshop consumables to customers for their own businesses and the repair and maintenance of trucks, trailers and vans.

With the addition of seven new vans already in operation and two more on the way, North West Trucks is set to boost its same-day delivery capabilities.

Chris Poulter, parts sales manager at North West Trucks, said: “The expansion of our fleet not only increases our delivery capacity but also reflects our dedication to meeting customer needs promptly and efficiently.

“These additional vans enhance our ability to ensure that parts are in the right place at the right time.”

FridgeXpress deploys new van rental fleet

FridgeXpress has added dual evaporated refrigerated Mercedes Sprinter vans to its rental fleet.

The Mercedes Sprinter conversions feature a removable mattress bulkhead, and with dual refrigeration systems, the vans can transport various medication loads at the same time.

Each one is available via FridgeXpress’s flexible hire solutions which includes full servicing, maintenance and repair provision as part of a single monthly rental.

“Our purpose at FridgeXpress is to keep our customers moving smarter, and this latest investment in the expansion of our services will benefit our pharmaceutical customers that are looking to maximise efficiency and minimise delivery miles,” said Adam Naylor, MD of FridgeXpress. 

“We have developed these dual-evaporated Mercedes Sprinter vans alongside our pharma customers.

“With the ability to transport multiple loads at once, chilled medication no longer needs to be transported in a separate vehicle to those requiring sub-zero temperatures.

“Not only are medications able to be delivered more quickly, but operators are also able to halve their delivery miles at the same time, it’s a smart solution for the industry.”

Cemex unveils its first HVO-powered vehicle in the UK

Cemex has unveiled its first HVO-powered – hydrogenated vegetable oil) – vehicle in support of its Future in Action programme – which acts as the driver for Cemex to become a carbon net zero business by 2050.

The vehicle will be operating out of Cemex’s Tilbury cement plant, which sits on the River Thames and serves the London and South East building and construction markets.

Dave Hart, director of supply chain at Cemex for the UK, said: “The introduction of the new HVO-powered vehicle at our Tilbury plant is another important step on our journey towards reducing carbon emissions within our HGV fleet.

“Electric and hydrogen powered alternatives are either still in development or do not yet have the range or the infrastructure to be supported across our larger vehicle fleet.

“HVO biofuel therefore, provides us with the opportunity for us to reduce carbon emissions, acting as a transitional fuel, whilst we continue to assess other emerging technologies such as electric and hydrogen power.”

XPO Logistics to roll out 160 new network vehicles

XPO Logistics has started to roll out 160 new rigid vehicles in its shared user network in the UK over the next four months.

The new vehicles are fitted with technology to assist drivers and improve road safety, including include all-around cameras to assist drivers when changing directions or manoeuvring and audible warnings when vehicles turn or reverse to alert other motorists and pedestrians.

Early trials of the new engines indicate a 10% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the vehicles they are replacing. 

Dan Myers, MD of XPO Logistics for the UK and Ireland, said: “We’re constantly evaluating the latest technologies and developments to ensure that our customers benefit from the most efficient, safe, and sustainable distribution possible.

“At the same time, we want to further the safety and welfare of our drivers, crews, and members of the public.”

The new vehicles will be based in the company’s nine core shared user sites and operating platforms across the UK, servicing the shared user pallet network, the after-sales and retail service, and the two-person B2B network.