Tesco has rolled out 25 extra-long Gray & Adams refrigerated trailers as part of a Department for Transport-backed trial.

The 15.65m trailers are equipped with multi-temperature refrigeration units and 1,500kg capacity tail-lifts. Each trailer carries 51 cages, six more than a standard 13.6m trailer. “That represents an increase in productivity of over 13%,” said fleet engineering manager Cliff Smith.

The move is part of Tesco’s drive towards reducing the carbon footprint of its distribution operation. Its ‘F plan’ - fuller cages, fuller trucks, fewer miles and fuel economy - had allowed it to take 111 million miles off the road over the last five years, saving 142,000 tonnes of CO2, it said.

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