The company, part of Halewood International, is keen to maintain a two-marque fleet, and was impressed by MAN ERF's all-round approach to the deal.

"MAN ERF were by far the most proactive manufacturer," said Group Fleet Manager, Paul Gaskell, "They were fast to respond to our exacting requirements, and great fuel economy from a long term TGL demonstrator really sealed it for MAN. The cab's nice and big too, and this was a major factor as we often run a two-man operation and a high level of comfort is important for the guys out on the road."

With Euro 4 compliance on the horizon, Paul Gaskell is clear that his 7.5 tonners will not suffer the complications of an AdBlue tank. "When running a large fleet through multi-site operations, I just don't need the hassle of AdBlue," he said, "I've seen the additional componentry required on various trucks at the CV Show, and it all seems so unnecessary. There's nothing to say about MAN's EGR system, and that's the beauty of it – it's business as usual, and there's no additional running costs."

The replacements, supplied with two-year warranty packages by MAN ERF Manchester, enter service out of Classic Drinks' St Helens hub.