reynolds mercedes fraikin

Fresh fruit and vegetable distributor Reynolds has taken 11 new Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units from Fraikin, in its first deal with the leasing firm.

The 44-tonne trucks with StreamSpace cabs have been leased on a five-year, full-service deal.

Reynolds also has a twelfth Actros on a hire agreement for when it needs an extra vehicle, and will only pay for the time the truck is in use. Reynolds runs a fleet of 235 vehicles in total.

Fraikin said a factor in Reynolds decision to hire through them over the other four businesses tendering was its proximity to the operator’s HQ.

Reynolds key site in Waltham Cross is just three miles away from Fraikin’s Enfield branch, where it will be able to have the Mercedes trucks maintained.

Expected to clock up 160,000k a year, the trucks will operate seven days a week and were specified with the Streamspace cabs to suit Reynolds’ long distance operation.

Steve White, head of fleet support at Reynolds, said: “Fraikin tailored a deal their competitors simply couldn’t match.

“The flexibility of the additional truck will make a huge difference to our operation, as will the benefit of the improved driver training – and having a Fraikin branch on our doorstep means any vehicle collected for servicing will be back in no time at all.”