Warburtons has taken delivery of the first Renault trucks to join its 900-strong fleet, with the three Range T430 4x2 tractor units joining the company’s primary trunking fleet.

The fleet of 130 vehicles operates out of its Enfield bakery, delivering goods across the South East.

Steven Gray, Warburtons’ national transport manager, said: “We trialled a Range T demonstrator supplied by local dealer JDS Truck and Van at our Bolton bakery.  Feedback from our drivers was very positive; they reported being pleasantly surprised with the quality, comfort and performance of the Range T, and this encouraged us to consider Renault Trucks as part of our next vehicle selection tender.

“As part of this process we ran our own TCO evaluation models, and the Range T was very competitive economically.

“Our vehicle selection criteria covers more than cost, image is important for the trusted Warburtons brand and our company ethos is built around quality which needs to be conveyed through the equipment we use - the Range T shares these values.”

Finished in Warburtons orange livery, the Range T430s come with a sleeper cab, and are equipped with Renault Trucks’ 11 litre straight-six DTi engines producing 424hp; behind this is an Optidriver 12 speed automated gearbox. 

The vehicles have been carefully specified for driver comfort, with options including air-suspended driver and passenger seats and Ultimate leather steering wheel.   

The Range Ts will cover some 175,000 kilometres per year, hauling Warburtons’ Gray & Adams insulated trailer fleet, half of which are double deck, which keep baked goods at a warm 22 degrees to maintain maximum freshness.

Steven Gray praised the support received by the team at JDS, led by sales director Richard Davies, who introduced Warburtons to Renault Trucks’ key account manager, John Bowden, and Norfolk Truck and Van, the local Renault Trucks dealer that will provide aftersales support throughout the five-year contract.

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