The truck and trailer operation of Dawsonrentals has placed an order for an initial 100 MAN TGX 26.440 6x2 and TGX 18.440 4x2 Euro 6 tractors with XLX cabs for its rental fleet.
"While these new Euro 6 trucks are going to be a very small part of the 10,000 trucks and trailers we operate across the UK, they are very significant," states John Fletcher, managing director of Dawsonrentals truck and trailer.
"There's been a lot of talk about Euro 6 and a lot of doom and gloom talked. But the fact is, for UK operators, life goes on and, come January 1st next year, Euro 6 becomes a fact of life," he continues.
"None of us can really afford to wait and see for ever, and Dawsonrentals has always tried to be at the front of positive change – so we have made this move," he explains.
Fletcher says that, apart from the fact that everyone is going to have to get involved with Euro 6 eventually, Dawsonrentals has a strong element in its customer base that likes to keep abreast of any development that enhances their environmental profile.
"There is no doubt Euro 6 should do that," he asserts. "So they want to start trialling Euro 6 in their own operations and building real-time experience and expertise. Rental is the economical way to start."
Dawsonrentals currently retains a fleet with a Euro 5 bias, and Fletcher concedes that there are no plans to switch overnight to Euro 6. The fleet comprises predominantly MAN and Mercedes-Benz trucks, with tractor units the workhorse vehicles, though a range of rigid specifications is also available.
"The MANs are an ideal spec for the majority of the rental work we are involved in, both for hauliers and logistics companies. [They] also sit well with own account operators," says Fletcher.
