This compares favourably with the first quarter last year (99.72%) and follows the introduction of a further 80 Vector 1950MT units to the fleet during 2014, bringing the total to 273.
Around half of the retailer's temperature-controlled trailer fleet is now Vector, from Carrier Transicold, with the latest 80 additions mounted to a Gray & Adams triple-compartment reefer trailer which is equipped with Carrier's DataCold 500T temperature recorders.
"Vehicle uptime is critical to our business and Carrier Transicold's Vector units have been performing well year-round, even on days when the ambient temperature has been particularly high," says Simon Gray, vehicle engineering manager at Waitrose.
The Vector 1950 MT units are backed by a 10-year everCOLD repair and maintenance agreement, which includes on-site scheduled servicing and repairs carried out by manufacturer-trained technicians from the Carrier Transicold network.
Annual temperature control testing and certification, F-gas regulation compliance, and access to Carrier's oneCALL 24/7 breakdown assistance service are also included.