Best Food Logistics has placed a landmark order for 286 Carrier Transicold systems to transform the sustainability performance of its temperature-controlled commercial vehicle fleet. The move includes a major investment in the manufacturer’s innovative engineless technology, including Eco-Drive-mounted tractors and rigid trucks featuring efficient and quiet Syberia and Iceland units. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.
Supplied in partnership with Zenith and replacing older assets, the full order includes 53 Eco-Drive-equipped Renault T tractors, paired with 63 Gray & Adams trailers mounted with Carrier Transicold Vector® HE 19 multi-temperature (MT) units, featuring a bespoke full-length split lane design separating frozen and chilled products. These will be joined by 108 Syberia 18i Twincool and five Iceland 18 Twincool-equipped DAF XD 26-tonners, plus 57 18-tonne DAF XBs mounted with Syberia 11i MT systems. Also featuring split-lane Gray & Adams insulated bodies, these trucks are set to enter service in 2025.
“Carrier’s expertise in electric and engineless products – for both trailers and rigid trucks – is second to none,” said Steve Pitts, Head of Operations, Best Food Logistics. “When you factor in the competitive pricing, reliability and superb aftersales support, they deliver the complete package. These new assets will be critical in our transition from refrigerated transport systems that rely solely on their own standalone diesel engines.”
Key to the customer’s shift towards engineless refrigeration is Eco-Drive technology, offered through Carrier Transicold’s Transform Line. Mounted to the tractor units and sitting at the heart of both the Syberia and Iceland systems, Eco-Drive uses a hydraulic pump connected to the truck engine’s power take-off. This generates electric power capable of delivering 100% refrigeration capacity, independent of engine speed. Alongside eliminating the use of standalone diesel engines across its new rigid trucks, the system can be used to run the company’s new and existing Vector trailer units, helping to significantly reduce emissions and operating noise.
Utilising Carrier Transicold’s E-Drive technology, the Vector HE 19 MT units feature an economiser and fully hermetic scroll compressor that deliver exceptional refrigerant gas containment. This architecture means the system is ideally suited to being powered electrically on the road via the tractor-mounted Eco-Drive modules, helping Best Food Logistics to further improve sustainability through lower diesel, maintenance and electricity costs.
“We’re proud of the potential that Carrier’s product range can offer businesses like Best Food Logistics that are looking to move their fleet operations into a more sustainable future,” said Tony Biggs, National Sales Manager, Carrier Transicold UK. “By placing Eco-Drive at the core of its ambitions, we’re excited to be able to support its ongoing transition to engineless operations across both its truck and trailer fleet.”
All the customer’s new units will be backed by comprehensive BluEdge fixed cost full-service maintenance packages, which include annual temperature control testing and certification, full regulatory checks and access to the company’s oneCALL 24/7 incident management service.
Best Food Logistics operates a 480-strong mixed commercial vehicle fleet from five UK depots, delivering to the hospitality and restaurant sector nationwide. Its move to engineless technology will contribute to Carrier’s 2030 goal of helping its customers avoid more than one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions.
