Reynolds, one of the biggest fruit and vegetable suppliers in the UK, and Fraikin, one of the largest commercial vehicle fleet services companies in the country, have started a new working relationship after signing a deal to contract hire 11 new 44-tonne Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units.

Five contractors fought to secure the five year, full service contract hire agreement with Reynolds, but Fraikin’s ability to conduct all maintenance work on the new vehicles at its Enfield branch, which is located less than three miles from the supplier’s main site in Waltham Cross, is what won the decision.

The company will also supply on a rental agreement an additional Mercedes-Benz that can be used when extra capacity is required, thus only charging for when it is in use. In-house training for Reynolds drivers will show them how the latest generation features on the truck can help improve fuel consumption.

“Fraikin tailored a deal their competitors simply couldn’t match. The flexibility of the additional truck will make a huge difference to our operation, as will the benefit of the improved driver training – and having a Fraikin branch on our doorstep means any vehicle collected for servicing will be back in no time at all,” said Steve White, Head of Fleet Support at Reynolds.

The supplier can also access the maintenance schedule for its vehicles at any time if they use the online web portal FraikinView. By monitoring all work in progress, businesses can minimise disruptions.

Each one of the new trucks will be operating seven days a week and will be expected to clock up around 160,000 km a year. The StreamSpace cab installed by Fraikin offers extra space and comfort, making them ideal for long distance work. Additionally, they also feature a side-cam detection system that alerts the driver of the presence of cyclists and pedestrians, helping improve safety on the roads.