Investment and agreement
We are excited to announce our investment in a new fleet of trucks, secured under a six-year rental and maintenance agreement with Volvo. Historically, Suttons has owned its vehicles outright as company assets; however, with our previous trucks surpassing seven years of service and accumulating over 500,000 kilometres, it was time for a change. The older vehicles were often in the garage for repairs, so this new investment marks a significant step toward improving reliability and efficiency.
Why Volvo trucks?
Our new fleet was selected to align with Macfarlane specifications, ensuring we meet operational and safety standards. These trucks feature key enhancements such as:
- Vehcam system for improved visibility and driver awareness.
- Octocargo system to enhance cargo security and handling.
- Improved pallet truck storage, reducing risks for both drivers and the public.
- Air conditioning within the cab to improve driver comfort.
The vehicles also feature a complete aero kit to boost fuel efficiency, lightweight bodies to reduce overall weight, and a driver comfort pack to enhance the overall driving experience.
Replacing the old fleet
These new trucks are replacing our ageing fleet, which has become increasingly unreliable. While we have retained one Suttons truck as a spare, one has been sold, and another is set to auction.
Benefits of the new fleet
Although it’s still early, the initial results are promising. The new trucks are achieving approximately 1 MPG better fuel efficiency than the old fleet and contributing to a CO2 reduction of approximately 2 kg per journey—down from 4.8 kg to 2.7 kg. This aligns with our ongoing commitment to reducing our environmental impact.
Future fleet plans
While no immediate changes are planned for our truck fleet, we are actively exploring improvements to our FLT (Forklift Truck) fleet later this year as part of our broader commitment to enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
