Middleton-based Romac Logistics has added 10 new 4x2 IVECO S-WAY CNG tractors to its 220-strong fleet, with plans to add a further ten of them later this year.
The company said the addition of the ten CNG-powered trucks have already attracted new enquiries, thanks to their ability to cut CO2 emissions substantially. Each truck is expected to cover around 160,000kms per year and will deliver CO2 emission cuts of around 125 tonnes per vehicle per year.
The ten trucks, supplied by South West Truck and Van in Avonmouth on a five-year IVECO Capital Operating Lease, are the latest in IVECO’s line-up of natural gas-powered heavy trucks.
The vehicles come with a 12.9-litre Natural Power Cursor 13 engine at 460hp, and 2,000Nm of torque between 1,100 and 1,600rpm, and a 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, with a ZF retarder.
The cabs are fitted with an independent cab heater, 7” touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, smartphone mirroring capability, truck specific TomTom LIVE satellite navigation, 2.15m standing height, and a 3-piece folding bunk with flip-down central table and cool-box.
Romac ordered the IVECO S-WAY NP to operate across a number of contracts. One of the vehicles is running store replenishment for a national supermarket chain with another on trunking routes between major regional delivery centres (RDCs) for a global e-commerce business. Five of the gas trucks are based at Romac’s Middleton headquarters near Manchester with the others at the firm’s Wednesbury depot in the West Midlands.
Andy Newnes, Romac’s commercial director, said: “Not only is there the important CO2 benefit, but there’s a cost advantage to gas fuelling so we intend to get these running as efficiently as possible, utilising them on double shifts over a 24hr period.”
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He added: “CNG is something that we wanted to tap into as part of our sustainability agenda and that seems to resonate as a number of interested parties have approached us since we began shouting about the gas trucks.”
Romac’s drivers have welcomed the new vehicles, Newnes said. “The introduction of the CNG trucks has been straightforward. We carried out some simple driver training purely from a refuelling point of view, but everything else runs the same as a diesel unit which really has just allowed the drivers to jump in and go.
He added: “Driver feedback has all been positive so far, as the refuelling is swift and naturally it’s physically much cleaner too. Far more pleasant. This is our first foray into IVECO product, but with the support of SWTV, it’s been a strong first impression so far and we look forward to developing that relationship moving forward.”
Romac has partnered with CNG Fuels for its refuelling needs and will get its renewable biomethane supplies from Warrington and Erdington.
Peter Eaton, CNG Fuels sales and business director, said: “These vehicles will be running on our 100% renewable and sustainable biomethane fuel, helping Romac and their clients achieve more than an 85% reduction in GHG emissions.
“Our network of Bio-CNG Stations is rapidly developing across the UK, allowing companies like Romac to make the switch to renewable fuels nationwide.”
Commenting on the delivery, IVECO UK’s heavy business-line director, Gareth Lumsdaine, said, “I’m very pleased to see that the introduction of the new IVECO S-WAY Natural Power to the UK market is already making such a positive impact.
“We at IVECO are very proud to lead on the road to decarbonising transport and it’s terrific to witness our latest offerings drawing new operators into the fold.”
