News

A preference for the simplicity of EGR engines is behind the decision of Evesham, Worcs-based Bannister Transport to buy five MAN tractors.

Tom Owens, the firm's general manager, says his first experience of AdBlue, with a Euro-5 Daf, was not a positive one. "It's horrible stuff, AdBlue: it crystallises when it spills and occasionally crystallises in the nozzle. It has  to be taken away to be cleaned so you can get more AdBlue in.

"EGR will play a part in future purchases. AdBlue is an extra cost and another responsibility for the driver," he says.

Since 2006, the fleet has also moved away from rental towards wholly-owned vehicles. The 10-strong line up includes six Scanias and four Dafs, all at Euro-3.

Now Owens has replaced five rental vehicles with five Euro-4 MAN TGX 6x2 tractors. Each is fitted with XLX cabs, MAN Fleet Management, and comes with repair and maintenance from Aquila Truck Centre.

"It is more viable to own [vehicles]: rental companies price hire just below what a finance deal might cost each month, so it looks cheaper, but if you buy at the end of it, you end up with an asset.

"My predecessor looked into MAN, and I picked up where he left off. We got quotes from other manufacturers and MAN was the keenest. It offered six-week lead times, which suited us. We bought the Fleet Management as an outright  purchase, we prefer not to have rolling costs over our heads if we can help it," he says.

Adding to the fleet in a time of economic crisis reflects growth in the retail food sector. "We are optimistic for this year - at the moment food distribution to wholesale has dwindled as more people are eating at home, food is the one growing industry in the UK at the moment," he says.

Bannister's core business comes from fresh-produce firms in the Worcestershire and Herefordshire area, delivering to Morrisons and Waitrose RDCs.