The firm recently took delivery of 12 32-tonne Range C430 8x4 trucks, joining its DAF-dominated fleet. A further six Range C430 trucks are now on order.
Impressive fuel performance and additional payload were key factors prompting the order, which followed a competitive tender process.
The initial trucks, supplied by local Renault Trucks dealer Diamond Trucks, include six Range C430s fitted with Hymix mixer units plus a further six bodied with insulated tipping equipment by Coleraine-based Farlow Engineering.
The Renault Range C trucks, which replace ageing DAF equivalents, are on a five-year lease deal configured through Renault Trucks Financial Services.
"Fuel performance is our main issue," comments Northstone Materials' fleet commercial director Richard McDermott.
"We've had good experience with some Renault Premium tractor units on our fleet, which ensured Renault Trucks were invited to tender," he continues.
"We asked all the manufacturers to demonstrate mpg – the Range C's impressive fuel performance, together with an additional half tonne payload and the competitive cost of leasing the vehicles, determined our decision."
McDermott says the additional payload was certainly important, but the saving in mpg makes the biggest difference.
"A couple of months on the road and the Range C430s are running very well, already achieving 8.5mpg – around a mile per gallon advantage over other vehicles on the fleet," states McDermott.
The Range C construction trucks are now working out of Northstone Materials' bases across Northern Ireland, with the tippers primarily geared towards road contracting operations, while the mixer trucks deliver concrete for customer supply.
Average haul distances vary, with some trucks based in rural areas and other vehicles operating in urban and city environments.