Evolve Haulage has taken delivery of 14 Renault Trucks T High 520 6×2 pusher tractor units as part of a substantial fleet renewal programme aimed at improving reliability, operational efficiency and driver comfort.
The new 44-tonne tractor units have been supplied on contract hire through Vertellus by Renault Truck Commercials, replacing a combination of leased, rented and older owned vehicles. They now account for more than half of the Wolverhampton-based operator’s 25-truck fleet.
Established in 2020 by husband-and-wife co-directors Gareth and Deborah Pritchard, Evolve Haulage operates around the clock, carrying beverages, chilled food, snacks and general freight for customers across the UK mainland.
The new vehicles will work with refrigerated, standard and double-deck trailers, primarily on dedicated customer contracts.
High-mileage operation drives investment
With the majority of the fleet double-shifted, each new tractor unit is expected to cover approximately 190,000km annually.
That intensive workload has made vehicle reliability and predictable maintenance costs increasingly important as the business has expanded.
Gareth Pritchard said: “We run the trucks hard, so older vehicles can quickly become expensive when the mileage builds and downtime can have a direct impact on our customers.”
He explained that moving towards newer vehicles on contract hire would give the company greater confidence in its fleet and the support needed for a continuous operation.
Renault Trucks has supplied vehicles to Evolve since its early years, initially through rental arrangements.
Deborah Pritchard said the manufacturer’s willingness to support the business when it was starting out had helped establish a lasting relationship.
T High 520 specification targets heavier loads
The Renault Trucks T High 520 was selected partly because much of Evolve’s beverage work operates close to the 44-tonne gross combination weight limit.
Its 12.8-litre engine develops 520hp and 2,550Nm of torque, transmitted through Renault Trucks’ 12-speed Optidriver automated gearbox.
The vehicles also feature the Fuel Eco package, including Optivision Map Based + Traffic Info, which uses route topography and traffic information to help optimise gear selection.
Anderson leads have been fitted to support trailers equipped with tail-lifts.
Gareth said fuel consumption would be closely monitored as the new vehicles entered service, with the operator placing particular emphasis on performance under heavier loads.
Early driver feedback has been positive, particularly regarding pulling performance.
Driver comfort and safety equipment
The T High sleeper cabs have been specified with four-point air suspension, heated and ventilated driver’s seats, climate control, refrigerators, microwaves, additional storage and Renault Trucks’ Sérénité lower bunk.
Each truck has also been allocated to a principal driver, an arrangement intended to encourage vehicle care and support driver retention.
Safety equipment includes camera-based rear-view systems, blind-spot cameras, side radar, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Emergency Braking.
A Direct Vision Standard package with left-turn warning equipment also enables the vehicles to operate in London when required.
Renault Trucks has provided training and video guidance to help drivers familiarise themselves with the camera-based mirror replacement system.
Contract hire package supports uptime
The vehicles are supplied through Vertellus with a full repair and maintenance package supported by Renault Truck Commercials at Tipton.
For Evolve, the ability to schedule servicing and inspections around a 24-hour operation was a significant consideration.
Gareth said the combination of vehicle specification, contract hire and maintenance support had been central to the purchasing decision.
Joe Laugharne, Transport Solutions Executive at Renault Truck Commercials, said the order represented an important investment in Evolve’s next stage of development.
The latest additions provide the operator with a younger fleet while offering greater flexibility to expand its tramping operations where required.
More Information
Renault Trucks: www.renault-trucks.co.uk
