NWF Agriculture has added a second Renault Trucks C480 8×4 Tridem to its 39-strong fleet, supplied by Renault Trucks dealer Diamond Trucks.
The latest vehicle, specified with a Muldoon animal feed bulker body, followed the successful introduction of the company’s first Renault truck earlier this year.
Operating nationwide from sites in Cheshire, Carlisle and North Devon, NWF Agriculture delivers compound and blended feed to more than 5,000 farms. The new C480, based at the Atherington mill in North Devon, has been working rural routes across Devon and Cornwall, supplying dairy, beef and sheep farms.
Powered by Renault Trucks’ 13-litre Euro VI engine, the Tridem configuration has combined output with manoeuvrability for access to narrow lanes and steep gradients common to farm deliveries in the Southwest. In its first weeks in service, the vehicle averaged around 2,500km per week.
The purchase formed part of NWF Agriculture’s fleet renewal programme, designed to maintain a balanced age profile across its three mills. The strategy sees vehicles replaced each year to support reliability, fuel performance and reduced downtime.
Phil Norbury, head of transport at NWF Agriculture, said: “This new C480 is our second Renault truck this year and builds on the success of our first. We’ve been really impressed with how it performs it drives exceptionally well, is comfortable for our drivers, and handles off-road conditions brilliantly. The manoeuvrability is particularly good, which is vital for accessing tight farmyards in Devon and Cornwall.”
The latest vehicle was the first in the fleet to be fitted with Muldoon’s new Connect System, enabling real-time monitoring of on-farm performance including blowing pressure, tip angle, kilometres per tonne and delivery weights. The data, combined with Renault Trucks Optifleet, has helped NWF improve utilisation, productivity and operational efficiency.
Norbury said: “The Muldoon Connect system is a fantastic tool it gives us valuable insights into how our vehicles are performing and helps us make smarter decisions about fleet efficiency. This truck is the first to feature the system, and we’re already planning to roll it out across future vehicles.”
The C480 was supplied through Diamond Trucks’ regional HGV account manager, Matthew Keys, who worked with NWF to match the vehicle’s specification to operational needs. “Matthew at Diamond has been superb throughout his communication and willingness to tailor the vehicle to our needs have been first class,” said Phil. “He worked closely with us to incorporate small but important details, such as fitting the fuel tank on the near side so we could position the toolbox and blower controls on the driver’s working side.”
Keys said: “It’s been great to work with Phil and the NWF Agriculture team on these vehicles. Their attention to operational detail and commitment to driver comfort is impressive. We’re delighted to see the Renault Trucks C performing so well for them and look forward to supporting their fleet development going forward.”
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