George H Kime & Co Ltd, a haulage, storage, and distribution specialist based in Boston, Lincolnshire, recently added 19 Renault Trucks Range T tractor units to their fleet, all sporting a special livery celebrating the company’s 90th anniversary. George H Kime is a long-time Renault customer and has operated Range T vehicles since 2013. These newest additions are all T480 6x2 pusher TML trucks powered by DTi 13-litre Step D, Euro 6 engines that produce 473 horsepower (353 kilowatts) and 2,400 newton-metres of torque. They will haul palletised loads in curtainside and double-deck trailers for The Pallet Network.
One benefit of the Range T is fuel efficiency, and George H Kime are already seeing an average of more than 11 mpg with the trucks “running over 1,500 miles,” a figure the company has “never come across,” according to MD Nigel Kime. New technologies and features play a considerable role in achieving that number, including a map-based gearshift strategy that analyzes topography, ECO Cruise control with Optiroll, side deflectors and adjustable roof deflectors, and more. Renault adds that tyre pressure monitoring and visible marking for fifth-wheel positioning also help the trucks achieve excellent fuel economy.
The cab features an air-suspended driver’s seat, an Ultimate upper bunk in the sleeper compartment, electronically regulated air conditioning, a 24-litre refrigerator, and a leather steering wheel with controls for cruise control and smartphones. Other miscellaneous features include camera systems, microwaves, advanced emergency braking, Renault’s Anti Rollaway Park Brake, and much more.
Moving Toward An All-Renault Fleet
“The Step D 13-litre engine is incredible; it’s the best fleet vehicle for the application,” Kime says. “Our drivers have been in most manufacturers’ vehicles, but these go above and beyond anything they’ve ever driven. We run a fleet of 44 trucks, 30 tractor units, as well as 18-t, 26-t, and 12-t, and thanks to the extended opening hours and responsive service we receive from Craig Osborne and the team at Thompsons in Boston, we’ll be going 100% Renault Trucks by June 2021.”
More Renault Range T Details
Designed for long-haul duties, Renault’s 2020 Range T series trucks are fitted with either a DTI 11 or DTI 13 Euro 6 Step D engine offering a 3% reduction in fuel consumption and C02 emissions over the previous generation. Range T trucks equipped with Renault’s efficient 11-litre straight-six DTi engines produce 424 hp (316 kW) and come with Optidriver 12-speed automated gearboxes as standard.
The 2020 Range Ts also feature a new high-efficiency axle and lighter disc brakes, further reducing fuel consumption. To better support drivers, the sleeper cab is equipped with rear cab overhead compartments that offer 221 litres of storage capacity, with three illuminated 36-cm-high lockers with sliding curtain closures.
Find The Right Renault Truck
There is a large selection of new and used Renault trucks including Range T models for sale on Truck Locator.