DHL Supply Chain reveals £90m fleet expansion

DHL Supply Chain has revealed details of a major £90m fleet expansion that it has underway.

The operator expects 90% of the 1,000 new vehciles ordered – a mixture of leased units direct from Volvo, Scania, DAF, as well as a quantity of ‘specialist units’ – to be in service by the end of the year. The majority are HGVs with around 40 vans for use in Life Sciences applications, the operator confirmed.

DHL Supply Chain said the new vehicles would expand its capability, rather than replace existing models, taking its UK fleet to approximately 6,500 units on completion.

The order includes tractor units, as well as specialised rigids and multi temperature-controlled vehicles.

All of them will be equipped with the safety features, including cameras, as well as Microlise telematics.

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Ian Clough, MD, network logistics and transport, UK & Ireland, DHL Supply Chain, said: “Not only are we investing in our infrastructure to support our growth, but to signal our confidence in the contract logistics market in the UK.

“These vehicles are equipped with the latest technology to ensure they have the best possible efficiency and safety features, allowing us to deliver best in class solutions for our customers.”

As part of DHL’s ongoing efforts to improve its sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of its operations, a number of the vehicles will run on liquefied natural gas. The operator didn't specify how many units this would represent.