Hermes UK has added 54 Euro-6 Dafs from hire firm Ryder to its fleet, as well as renewing a three-year tyre-management contract with Michelin Solutions.
The new trucks, all supplied on a contract hire basis, comprise 30 Daf CF tractor units of which 20 are fleet additions and 10 are replacements. The deal also includes 24 Daf LF 12-tonne rigids to directly replace 7.5-tonners on the fleet.
Rob Elmore, Hermes’ fleet services manager, said: “We handle more than 200 million collections and deliveries per annum, via our network of 9,000 couriers, and it is essential that this operation has the resources in place to meet the precise needs of our retail customers.”
Meanwhile, Michelin Solutions will continue to handle tyre management for the courier firm, following a 12% reduction in fuel costs over the past three years. The deal will cover the entire Hermes UK fleet of 190 tractor units, 368 rigid trucks and 760 trailers.
Claire Phelan, head of procurement for Hermes UK, said: “Michelin Solutions has provided us with a tyre policy that, in conjunction with our other investments in more fuel-efficient trucks and aerodynamic trailers, has helped to optimise the operation of our fleet. This has led to a double-digit fuel saving over the last three years, saving nearly 1,000,000 litres of diesel.”
Hermes UK aims to specify all new vehicles with Michelin tyres – the majority being Michelin X Line Energy tyres to improve rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Tyre regrooving, retreading and replacement will be carried out by ATS Euromaster and Michelin certified centres.
