Heltor returns
to Michelin
tyre policy
N
ewton Abbot-based heating oil and
fuel specialist Heltor has returned to
a full Michelin tyre policy across its
fleet of more than 50 commercial vehicles, less
than two years after switching to a competing
premium brand.
Heltor’s fleet operations manager, Ian
Peacock, says; “The change in tyre policy was
designed to reduce our vehicle operating costs,
but in fact we saw our tyre bills rising.
“We compared our new tyres versus
existing Michelin tyres on like-for-like vehicles,
and there was a noticeable difference. The
Michelins were consistently delivering around
65 per cent greater tyre life on the drive axle,
and more than twice the life on our trailers.
You can’t argue with that kind of performance
advantage.”
Michelin is now supplying 100 per cent
of all commercial vehicle tyres to Heltor on a
Heltor vehicles furbished with cost
reducing Michelin tyres
‘purchase and supply’ agreement. All tyres
follow a multi-life policy which helps to extract
the maximum performance from each new
Michelin casing.
A vital contribution to cost control
A
The next decade is critical
LowCVP’s head of projects, Gloria Esposito,
said; “The next decade is going to be critical
W
hen domestic and commercial
heating oil and gas supplier HBS
Fuels decided to relegate two long-
running FUSO Canters to support roles, their
front-line replacements were always going to
be updated versions of the same model.
They are now working alongside HBS
Fuels’ 15-registered 7.5-tonne Canter and
delivering within a 30-mile radius of the
company’s base in Stockbridge.
The two Canters which made way for the
new arrivals had been on the road since 2006
and 2009 and have been retained as back-ups
and for lighter work.
With Heltor specialising in the sale and
movement of petroleum products across the
South West of England as well as the supply of
engine oils, lubricants, greases, coolants, fluids
and AdBlue control of vehicle operating costs
is vital.
“We’ve benefited from great support and
guidance from Michelin at every stage of the
process.” Ian adds. Small and agile
for mitigating road transport greenhouse
gas emissions if we are to meet the 2050 net
zero target. Public and private sector fleet
operators are under growing pressure to reduce
the carbon footprint of their own activities
and those of their suppliers. Renewable fuels
can provide an immediate and cost-effective
solution to achieving such savings, especially
for HGV fleets. Commenting on the ability to multi-drop
deliveries down country lanes, HBS Fuels
operations manager Steve Walker, said;
“The Canter is well liked by our drivers. It’s
comfortable and easy to drive, not least
because it’s smaller and agile with an excellent
turning circle. The vehicle’s compact footprint
and manoeuvrability are a big advantage in
this part of the world.”
HBS Fuels’ new Canters can each carry up
to 3,250 kg. “The Canter has the best payload
on the market and with up to 38 bottles
on board ours are invariably close to their
maximum gross weight when they set off each
morning,” said Mr Walker. “You wouldn’t get
anything like that many bottles on the other
makes of 7.5-tonne truck we’ve tried in the
past.
LowCVP sets
out the case
for biofuels
new guide for fleet operators published
by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
(LowCVP), suggests renewable fuels
can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions
in road transport.
The Renewable Fuels Guide, supported by
CNG Fuels and Scania, claims the adoption of
renewable fuels from sustainable feedstocks
offers ‘one of the most rapid, and economically
viable,’ routes to lowering emissions for
vehicles, both new and those already in service.
It covers the low carbon and sustainable
fuels currently available in the UK, with
a focus on high blend biofuels for use
in commercial vehicles and highlights
opportunities for the introduction of
renewable fuels including biodiesel,
biomethane, biopropane and HVO.
Reliable FUSO
Canter has
more than
enough ‘bottle’
for HBS Fuels
A strategic network
Philip Fjeld, CEO & co- founder, CNG Fuels said;
“We are working hard to make it easier for
fleet operators to switch from diesel and help
decarbonise freight transport.
“We are building a strategic network
of refuelling stations and have just opened
Europe’s largest CNG refuelling station
in Warrington. From next year we will be
supplying the UK’s first carbon neutral fuel for
HGVs, helping our customers achieve Net Zero
emissions.”
Seeing double: operations manager Steve
Walker, with HBS Fuels’ latest FUSO Canters
Fuel Oil News | May 2020 5