Bread-maker Warburtons is looking to save some dough on its in-house transport after it became the first operator in the UK to trial the new Mercedes-Benz Econic.
The 4x2 Econic 1828LLG combines a low-entry cab with a low-emission, gas-powered engine.
Warburtons will trial the vehicle on a six-month loan with the option of adding the vehicle to its fleet on a long-term lease.
Warburtons has been operating gas-powered and dual-fuel trucks for the past 10 years, and a quarter of its 100 tractor units run wholly or partly on gas. The company also operates 800 12- to 15-tonne delivery trucks and has its own gas refuelling facilities.
Mark Sutcliffe, Warburtons group transport manager, says: "Gas offers two big advantages. First, of course, 
it produces fewer emissions and so helps us to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment.
"But the Econic's gas-powered engine is a lot quieter too," he adds, "which is another important attribute when we're operating in city centres or near residential areas."
The truck will run with a 13.6m Gray & Adams insulated box trailer, trunking between Warburtons' 25 depots nationwide.