THREE TOP SPEC T HIGHS FOR MCATEER RECYCLING

One of Northern Ireland’s leading waste specialists, McAteer Recycling, has put into service three top specification Renault Trucks Range T520 High 6x2 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 says: “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 says: “We took advantage of a 0% 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.  It’s real peace of mind for us.  Now we’re looking to order a further five T Highs, and although the 0% 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 4 or 5 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, as Eamonn explains: “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.”

Despite the heavy work, Eamonn is pleased with fuel performance. He notes: “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.”

Reliability is also a key factor for McActeer Recycling, and the support from the Renault Trucks dealer network is highly valued.  Eamonn says: “Matthew Keys at Diamond Trucks is very easy to do business with and, as we’re working all over Ireland, we also rely on the Renault Trucks network - Toal Truck Services in Armagh and Setanta in Dublin. We know we can get the support we need wherever we are.”

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.