The vehicles are two 7.5-tonne Ategos and two 18-tonne Antos trucks, and it is the first time that Howard Tenens has opted for outright purchase over contract hire.
The trucks will primarily be used to transport vending machines, so Tiger designed bespoke features such as internal stair-walker charging points, as well as large power-closure tail-lifts with a special floor coating to ensure near-silent operation – making them ideal for handling night-time deliveries in residential areas.
“Tiger Trailers built one of the double deck trailers we have on contract hire, so we had absolute confidence in the build quality and reliability,” says Richard Philpotts, national fleet and compliance manager.
“When combined with a very competitive price, we saw the potential for some significant savings to our operation – it made choosing ownership over contract hire a viable option.”
The bodybuilder worked closely with the operator and, adds Philpotts, “they even explained how they’d be helping to keep costs down. This level of service made the entire process a really positive experience, from start to finish.”
The vehicles are working from the firm’s depots in Manchester and west London, and are expected to remain in operation for three to five years.