Iceland Foods has ordered an additional 79 Range T tractor units and appointed two Renault Trucks approved dealers to run its Vehicle Maintenance Units (VMUs) in Enfield and Swindon.

Iceland’s cntracts and commercial manager, Dave Rowlands, said: “We have used Renault Trucks since 2009 and during that time we’ve built a solid working relationship. We have worked together to develop the specification of the current vehicles and we have been very pleased with the existing trucks which are performing very well, have great driver appeal and deliver good fuel returns.”

75 new Range T460 4x2s will be used to update Iceland’s fleet and service its stores in the South with a further four on order for its Driver of the Year programme, bringing Renault Trucks’ share of the 320-strong fleet to 53 percent. The new high specification vehicles are fitted with driver aids including emergency brake assist, forward-facing cameras and Renault Trucks Optifleet telematics system, which allows Iceland to monitor driver behaviour through a dedicated portal.

With the support of Renault Trucks UK, approved dealers Norfolk Truck and Van and Sparks Commercials have also won the tender to run Iceland’s Vehicle Maintenance Units in Enfield and Swindon and will be responsible for delivering all vehicle maintenance, inspections and MOT preparation for all makes including trailers and tail lift marques.

Rowlands adds: “The majority of our fleet in Enfield and Swindon are Renault Trucks so it made perfect sense for a Renault Trucks dealer to manage the maintenance in our onsite VMUs. Cost was also a factor as well as the option for additional support from local dealerships and the national support from Renault Trucks as a whole.”

Michael Spark, of Sparks Commercials Services said: “Sparks is extremely proud to have won the tender to run Iceland’s VMU in Swindon. We have spent 25 years perfecting our business and we operate 24 hours a day, every day to ensure a speedy turnaround on any service or repair. With our service centre in the heart of Swindon and just five minutes from the motorway, we are perfectly located and equipped to deal with all of Iceland’s vehicle maintenance, inspections and MOT work in the area.”

As well as supplying the vehicles, Renault Trucks has also supported the hugely successful Iceland Driver of the Year competition since 2012, with the four winners each year all receiving an up-spec Renault Trucks’ tractor unit in a unique livery and a visit to the truck manufacturer’s factory in Lyon.