Renault’s gone to Iceland – with 79-vehicle order

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Transport Engineer  /  January 30, 2017

Retailer Iceland has placed an order for 79 Renault Range T tractors, and has appointed two Renault dealers to run its vehicle maintenance units (VMUs) in Enfield and Swindon.

The latest order, which brings Renault’s share of the Iceland fleet to 53%, is for 75 Range T460 4x2s to service the retailer’s stores in the south of England, with four more Range Ts to use on its driver of the year scheme.

All vehicles are fitted with driver aids including emergency brake assist, forward-facing cameras and Renault’s Optifleet telematics system, which allows Iceland to monitor driver behaviour through a dedicated portal.

Dave Rowlands, Iceland’s contracts and commercial manager, says the two organisations have built “a solid working relationship” since 2009. “We have worked together to develop the specification of the current vehicles and we have been very pleased with the existing trucks which are performing very well, have great driver appeal and deliver good fuel returns,” he says.

Dealers Norfolk Truck and Van and Sparks Commercials have also won the tender to run Iceland’s VMUs in Enfield and Swindon, and will be responsible for delivering all vehicle maintenance, inspections and MOT preparation for all vehicle makes, including trailers and tail-lifts.

Rowlands says: “The majority of our fleet in Enfield and Swindon are Renault trucks, so it made perfect sense for a Renault Trucks dealer to manage the maintenance in our onsite VMUs. Cost was also a factor as well as the option for additional support from local dealerships and the national support from Renault Trucks as a whole.”

As well as supplying vehicles, Renault Trucks has also supported Iceland’s driver of the year competition since 2012, with four winners each year receiving an up-spec Renault tractor in a unique livery and a visit to the manufacturer’s factory in Lyon.

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