Renault Midlums bring fresh look to D&F McCarthy 31 October 2011

In what is being pitched as a conquest deal for Renault Trucks, one of East Anglia's leading fresh produce merchants, D&F McCarthy, has taken delivery of three Renault Midlums into its Iveco-dominated fleet of 18 trucks and vans.

Supplied by Renault Trucks dealer Brand of Beccles, the two 14t Midlum 270.14s and one 18t Midlum 300.18, all with Optitronic gearboxes, have been equipped with refrigerated bodies and slide-away tail lifts fitted by Gray & Adams.

The new Midlums are the company's first mid-weight trucks, marking a move from 7.5tonne up to 14 and 18tonne, which D&F director Martin McCarthy explains is aimed at improving operational efficiency.

The decision to purchase higher gvw trucks, he says, follows a market audit and recommendation by Matthew Alexander from Brands of Beccles.

"The Midlums are enabling us to deliver far more than we were achieving with the 7.5 tonners, with only a moderate impact on running costs, which are more than compensated by the additional payload," states McCarthy.

"With this increased payload allowing us to have a tail lift and the ability to carry a pallet truck, our drivers are now able to offload pallets without the need for the customer to have a forklift – which is a huge advantage," he adds.

An expansion into the food service market has seen McCarthys now place an order for a further 14t Midlum trucks, which will go on the road in spring 2012 and join the company's growing delivery operation.

Martin McCarthy continues: "On the basis of the Renault Midlums' performance so far, there will be repeat orders as we upgrade our fleet and continue to grow our business," comments McCarthy.

Working out of McCarthy's new temperature controlled depot in Norwich, the three new Midlums were specified for the complete cold chain palletised operation, reducing manual loading and increasing productivity.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Renault Trucks UK Ltd

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