One of Northern Ireland’s leading waste specialists, McAteer Recycling, has put into service three top specification Renault Trucks Range T520 High 6×2 twin wheel tag axle tractor units on a five year Start & Drive hire purchase contract with Renault Trucks Financial Services.

Supplied by Diamond Trucks, these are the first T520 Highs to join the company’s mixed fleet of 25 tractors and rigids. Vehicle selection was based on reliability, economy and performance, as well as the strength of the Renault Trucks dealer network across the island of Ireland.

In McAteer Recycling’s striking bold blue livery, with colour-coded cab components, the T520 Highs work on the company’s scrap recycling operation, collecting semi-processed materials and transporting to the main recycling processors in Belfast, or onto the ports for treatment in the UK, Spain and beyond.

Commenting on the decision to add the new flagship Renault trucks to the fleet, Director Eamonn McActeer said: “We always said we’d buy the T High when it came out in right hand drive. The drivers love them, even dedicated drivers of other trucks won’t get out of them!”

The company opted for a five-year Renault Trucks Start & Drive hire purchase contract through Renault Trucks Financial Services (RTFS) that guarantees maximum uptime.

Providing an on balance sheet solution with all the benefits of economic ownership of the vehicle, the total peace of mind that all repair and maintenance costs are covered is a real plus, as Eamonn added: “We took advantage of a zero per cent finance offer with RTFS over five years that’s fully warranted for the life of the contract, so for five years all we have to worry about is fuel and tyres.

“Now we’re looking to order a further five T Highs, and although the zero per cent finance deal is no longer available, we’ll still be going with the RTFS Start & Drive contract over four years for risk-free maintenance and repairs.”

Renault Trucks’ longer term four or five year low rate finance offers provide all the upsides of a contract hire repair and maintenance agreement without the worry of vehicle return condition or downtime during the defleet process at the end of the contract.

Pulling BMI 75 cu yd HardBox Scrap tipping trailers, the company selected the top powered Renault Trucks DTi 13 litre Euro-6 engine, which produces 512hp and 2550 Nm of torque.

Eamonn continued: “The steel-bodied scrap trailers mean we’re heavy even when running empty so we need the extra power. Coming out of Dublin, it’s hilly enough terrain that we need to power up, and if this means more can be done in a day, we’re earning more money.

“Five months on the road and the trucks are getting better mileage as they run in, even on our work they’re pushing 8.1mpg. When you’re running as many trucks as we are, every drop of fuel you save counts.”

McActeer has spec’d the trucks with all mod cons for a comfortable life on the road, including leather trimmed, air-suspended driver’s and passenger seats, TV, 40litre fridge, and bunk area lighting. Outside, the trucks carry top light bars and air horns, to complement the vehicle’s imposing on-road presence.

Diamond trucksRenault Range T High

About the Author: John Loughran