Reynolds buys Mercedes-Benz Econic tractors for London multidrop deliveries

UK food distributor Reynolds has added four Mercedes-Benz Econic 4x2 tractors to its London multidrop fleet, and has plans to take more in the future.

The trucks, which join a pair of three-year-old 18-tonne Econic rigids, have PowerShift transmissions and are coupled to 11m Gray & Adams refrigerated urban trailers.

Reynolds head of fleet Steve White, who has a background in the waste industry, said: “The Econic has always been great for refuse and it could be the answer for other applications.”

He said it was the success of the rigids that gave him the confidence to partner with Ryder to put the UK’s first Econic tractor on the road.

Based at its Waltham Cross headquarters, the first Econic was supplied by Ryder on a seven-year contract hire basis. White said it costs £1,500 more a year than a regular 4x2 tractor, but described the additional price as “worth every penny”.

White wants to take the concept a step further and has placed an order for a zero-emission battery-powered 26-tonne Econic. Supplied by NRG Fleet Services, it will join the fleet in March.

“Because of the low mileages covered [between 70 and 80 miles every night in London], I think the electric Econic will be great,” he said. “For us as a business, I see the Econic having a big presence in the fleet.”

Reynolds will also take delivery of four 13.5-tonne Isuzus in March, boosting the total number on the fleet to 10. He described the trucks as “good bits of kit”, praising their “sturdy chassis” and “good front-end price versus residual value”.

White is also impressed with the 7-tonne payload and said the air-suspended seat gives the trucks more driver appeal than the Isuzu 7.5-tonners also on
its fleet. “They’re great for multidrop, but you wouldn’t want to trunk to Scotland in them,” he said. “Overall, the drivers prefer DAFs and Mercedes, but my financial director doesn’t!”