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AO.com is predicting a “significant” cut in is fleet’s running costs after refreshing its fleet with 80 new rigid trucks.

Built by Tiger Trailers, the rigid bodies, which are mounted to 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego chassis, are designed to improve fuel efficiency by reducing airflow resistance. The rigid bodies’ design also ensures weight is kept to a minimum by using aluminium in the bearers, chassis runners and in the panels of the rear roller-door, and ultra-thin Ecofont side panels.

The vehicles, which will operate seven days a week, making between 30 and 40 drops per day of large volume white goods, are also fitted with slam locks on the rear roller doors for additional security.

The 80 rigid trucks, which replace older vehicles in AO.com’s delivery fleet, have been specified on three and five-year leases from Ciceley Commercials. They join AO.com delivery fleet, which includes vans, rigid trucks and double deck trailers.

The deal represents the first rigid bodies Tiger has built for the company, having supplied double deck trailers for its trunking fleet since 2014.

Jon Makin, AO.com national fleet manager said: “We have been working with Tiger since 2014 and knew their design team would be up to the task. They look at things differently to other manufacturers, placing the efficiency of the design at the forefront of the process.”

He added: “These trucks operate everywhere in the UK, from country roads to city streets. The delivery routes we run require the vehicles to be flexible enough to access any destination. Each truck will clock up between 80,000 and 100,000km a year so the new aerodynamics Tiger has incorporated will make a significant difference to their fuel efficiency.”

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