Hunt’s Food Group Targets Emissions Savings Through New Carrier Transicold Eco-Drive and Vector HE 19 MT-Cooled Specialist Trailers

Published on February 29 2024

To help improve fleet sustainability and overall operational efficiency, Cold Chain Federation member Hunt’s Food Group has taken delivery of its first ever tractor fitted with the Cold Chain Federation member Carrier Transicold Eco-Drive system, alongside three new specialist 15.5m variable deck longer semi-trailers (LST), each mounted with a Carrier Transicold Vector® HE 19 MT unit. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

The addition of the new trailers, which were supplied by Gray & Adams, means that 12 of the company’s 13-strong trailer fleet are now Carrier-cooled. By opting for the 15.5m LST design, Hunt’s Food Group will benefit from the ability to carry more payload per trip, reducing the number of overall delivery journeys required and therefore helping to cut its carbon footprint – savings that increase further when combined with its new Eco-Drive unit. 

“Having exclusively opted for Carrier Transicold products since 2015, we’ve grown accustomed to both top-notch service and unrivalled performance,” said Phil Hopkins, Transport Director, Hunt’s Food Group. “The addition of the new Eco-Drive technology to the fleet is very exciting, especially when combined with the Vectors on the larger trailers. We are especially grateful to how closely Carrier worked alongside Gray & Adams on the design of the new LSTs, the team went above and beyond to make sure we received the ideal solution for our needs.”

Combining Carrier Transicold’s E-Drive all-electric technology with a multi-speed engine design, the Vector HE 19 MT can deliver up to 30% fuel savings when compared to the previous generation Vector 1950. The presence of a fully hermetic scroll compressor and economiser also provides a 40% increase in refrigeration capacity during pull-down, all while being 3 db(A) quieter than the legacy unit, helping to minimise sound pollution. The hermetic scroll compressor further boosts the Vector HE 19 MT’s sustainability credentials by providing unparalleled levels of refrigerant gas containment, which plays a significant part in reducing overall carbon emissions.

The Vector HE 19 MT is also 19% more efficient when plugged into the electrical grid on standby or when operating on the 400 volt, three-phase electric power generated by the Eco-Drive, which helps Hunt’s Food Group to further improve sustainability through lower diesel, maintenance and electricity costs.

Mounted to a 44-tonne DAF CF tractor unit, the company’s first Eco-Drive will unlock additional emissions savings across its temperature-controlled trailer fleet. Incorporated within the tractor’s chassis, the innovative Eco-Drive power module uses a hydraulic pump connected to the tractor engine’s power take-off, which drives a generator capable of delivering the electrical power required to run any of the company’s Carrier Transicold Vector units. This power is delivered independent of the truck’s engine speed, ensuring 100% refrigeration capacity even when the vehicle is idling.

“Hunt’s Food Group has been a loyal Carrier Transicold customer for many years now, and we’re glad Phil and his colleagues continue to see the value our technology brings to the table,” said Tony Biggs, Key Account Manager, Carrier Transicold UK. “We’re delighted to help them take the next step in their sustainability evolution with these latest additions to the fleet.”

Both the Eco-Drive and the three new Vector HE 19 MT units are protected by Carrier Transicold’s comprehensive BluEdge fixed-cost full-service maintenance package, including annual temperature control testing and certification, full regulatory checks and access to the company’s oneCALL 24/7 incident management service. The units will help contribute to Carrier’s goal of helping its customers avoid more than one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

For more information on Carrier Transicold products and services in the UK, visit www.carriertransicold.co.uk. Follow Carrier Transicold on X: @SmartColdChain or on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.

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