NGV Global

UK

Robert Wiseman Dairies, one of the UK’s leading fresh liquid milk processors, has taken delivery of two DAF Dual-FuelTM gas/diesel trucks from Clean Air Power. As part of the company’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fuel costs, Wiseman is using the two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) DAF CF85 340 4×2 tractor units on routes in the north west of England and Scotland.

Both trucks and tri-axle milk trailer combinations operate at 38 tonnes GVW and will cover around 100,000 miles per annum. In the first three weeks Wiseman has reportedly been delighted with the truck’s performance with the drivers showing an enthusiastic response to the vehicles.

"Driver reaction has been very positive, in particular they like the fact that engine noise is reduced on motorway driving as their truck is predominantly using gas not diesel," explained John Kirk, group transport manager at Robert Wiseman Dairies.

Wiseman runs 1,250 vehicles and will be reviewing the truck’s performance after six months, by which time it could add more Dual-Fuel  trucks to its fleet.
Both trucks use the LNG fuelling facility at Chive Fuels on the M74 in Scotland and all fuel usage is monitored via a Triscan fuel management system, which will keep an eye on the amount of gas and diesel each DAF uses.

"It’s too early to say what emissions and fuel costs we have reduced in the first three weeks, but the trucks have been reliable and we are hoping for a gas substitution rate of more than 50% on the DAF," said Kirk.

"What we are offering heavy truck operators is a proven way of reducing greenhouse gases and annual fuel bills,” said Clean Air Power’s chief executive John Pettitt. “ Forward thinking fleets like Wiseman are reducing their transport emissions by around 10 tonnes per annum. Particularly in the UK where profit margins on road freight are so tight, annual fuel savings of around £10,000 are very beneficial.

"It’s through operator recognition that we are going to get greater interest from OEMs to offer Dual-Fuel as an integral part of their product range," he added.
Wiseman runs its own in-house maintenance network which will service the Dual-FuelTM trucks. It joins Warburtons and the Co-operative Group who run 78 Dual-FuelTM trucks between them.