48% fuel saving drives Huntapac’s switch to Thermo King’s Advancer

Five new G&A trailers with fuel efficient Advancer A400 units from Marshall Fleet Solutions added to Huntapac trailer fleet.

This five reefer trailer deal, supplied via Huntapac’s preferred trailer supplier TIP Trailer Services, in conjunction with long term TK dealer Marshall Fleet Solutions, resulted from the West Lancashire company running one of MFS’s Advancer demonstration trailers in its fleet. Operating in the busy pre-Christmas December trading period, the MFS Advancer trailer returned 48% fuel savings in comparison with other similar fleet trailers running alternative refrigeration systems on the same routes.

Commenting on now specifying Thermo King systems in their trailer fleet, Joanne Cleece, head of transport at Huntapac Produce Ltd said, “Across the whole spectrum of our tractor unit and trailer fleet, we are looking to increase the overall fleet fuel efficiency going forward, specifically to offset the continually rising costs of fuel. We were keen to try the Advancer system as soon as it was launched to see whether TK’s Advancer fuel cost claims were justified.”

Joanne continues, “Working closely with both TIP and Marshall Fleet Solutions, we were the first company to run the MFS Advancer demonstration trailer in the UK. Within the trial period, based on our running profile of 1500 hours per annum, the fuel savings were exceptional, in comparison to our existing reefer trailers fitted with the equivalent incumbent systems. In addition, the Advancer performance stats also indicated a substantial environmental benefit too with significant savings in CO² output per unit. Instantly we realised that Advancer was going to be a game changer, not just for our future refrigerated trailer fleet but for the industry in general.”

In early 2021, Huntapac were looking to increase their trailer fleet to cope with the additional customer volumes and added a further five new Gray & Adams single temperature refrigerated trailers, with each one specified with an Advancer A400 system. These new trailers are now based at the company’s West Lancashire production facility and were supplied on a contract hire deal through TIP Trailer Services, with Marshall Fleet Solutions handling the Advancer refrigeration system service and maintenance support during the trailer’s working life.

“One of the most challenging elements of running a transport fleet is the cost of fuel which impacts on every operator. As part of its programme to increase its fleets’ overall fuel efficiency, Huntapac worked closely with MFS to see whether Advancer could play a significant future role in their refrigerated trailer fleet. Advancer soon proved itself out on the road and we are really pleased to now be actively involved with Huntapac as part of this ongoing fleet efficiency initiative,” said Mark Howell, managing director, Marshall Fleet Solutions.