In a move designed to improve the sustainability of its commercial vehicle fleet, Gloucestershire-based Creed Foodservice has specified its first Carrier Transicold ICELAND TWINCOOL engineless refrigeration systems for 12 new DAF LF rigid trucks. Carrier Transicold, which operates in the UK as Carrier Transicold (UK) Limited, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
Creed Foodservice selected the new ICELAND undermount units because of their ability to run on power derived from the truck’s ultra-clean Euro VI diesel engine via Carrier Transicold’s ECO-DRIVE power module, which uses a hydraulic pump connected to the truck engine’s power take-off. The variable displacement pump drives a generator, which delivers electrical power to the unit and provides 100 per cent refrigeration capacity even at standard idle speed – a frequent occurrence on the congested urban routes Creed Foodservice operates out of its Gloucestershire, Ilkeston and High Wycombe depots.
In addition, removing the need for a separate diesel engine for the refrigeration unit significantly helps to reduce emissions, making the new vehicles as efficient as possible.
“These new trucks help to future-proof our fleet and ensure we are using the latest transport refrigeration technology with a much smaller environmental footprint,” said Richard Frost, operations controller, Creed Foodservice. “When we took into account the benefits of Carrier’s multi-temp, engineless solution, it became clear that this system was perfectly suited to our fleet requirements. The results so far have been fantastic; moving forward I expect we’ll be looking to roll out the same Carrier Transicold systems to any new vehicle in our fleet.”
Being an undermount unit, the ICELAND system was also specifically chosen for its ability to be serviced and maintained from ground level, reducing the need to work at height and, thereby, creating a safer working environment. As the system is not situated above the cab, it also improves the vehicle’s aerodynamics, which has an additional positive impact on fuel efficiency.
The ICELAND unit operates below the PIEK-compliant noise level of 60 dB(A), even at 100 per cent capacity, which contributes to significantly quieter operations – ideal for Creed Foodservice’s urban deliveries.
The new vehicles will be on the road six days a week and will cover an average of 80,000 kilometres a year, delivering chilled and frozen produce on multi-drop routes to its broad range of customers throughout the UK.
Founded in 1972, Creed Foodservice is one of the UK’s major independent family-owned foodservice wholesalers, delivering quality ambient, fresh and frozen produce and non-food catering products to chefs and caterers in the care, education, leisure destinations and hospitality sectors.
For more information on Carrier Transicold and its products and services, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier Transicold on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
For more information on Creed Foodservice, visit www.creedfoodservice.co.uk.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.
