Fonterra has announced it will spend $27 million to make its tanker fleet safer, greener and easier to handle.
Fonterra’s National Transport and Logistics Manager, Barry McColl, says the Board has approved the $27 million as part of the co-operative’s ongoing programme to upgrade its 480 strong fleet – the largest in New Zealand.
“The biggest change will be the purchase of 76 new Volvo trucks that start arriving in the country this month. These trucks replace some of the existing fleet that have come to the end of their life.
“The Volvo trucks are more efficient and have lower running costs, making our milk collection operation more efficient, both environmentally and economically. They’ve also got sophisticated stability and braking systems, making them safer on the road,” says Mr McColl.
The safety of the Fonterra tankers was a key consideration for the upgrade. The replacement programme will add another 76 trucks with Electronic Braking System (EBS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) technology to the fleet.
“With the arrival of the new trucks, 86 per cent of our fleet will have EBS/ESC technology which is a definite safety advantage. It balances the braking between the truck and the trailer, giving the tanker a more stable braking system, making it easier to handle on the road.”
The Volvo trucks also have sophisticated emission control systems and put out 35 per cent fewer emissions than the vehicles they are replacing.
“The Volvos use 30 per cent less diesel and this upgrade means we will be reducing our fuel consumption by around 2 million litres next season,” says Mr McColl.
Mr McColl says the fleet upgrade will also include the refurbishment of 13 tankers.
“We’re refurbishing trucks that have travelled big distances – some more than 1 million kilometres – but are reliable and still working well. By refurbishing them, we extend the life of these vehicles by two and a half years, allowing us to get the most out of our fleet.”
Image courtesy of www.farmtrader.co.nz