Cooking oil distributor Cookers has added a Scania P 360 rigid to its fleet, targeting lower fuel use, improved driver comfort and stronger safety performance on regional Victorian routes.
Cookers has selected a Scania P 360 for long-distance delivery work as the company looks to improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of its regional transport operations.
The business supplies new cooking oil to the food industry and collects used oil for recycling, helping commercial kitchens reduce packaging and divert waste from landfill.
While most of the Cookers fleet consists of medium rigid trucks operating on metropolitan routes, the new Scania will be based at Derrimut and travel across Victoria. Its driver will spend extended periods away from the depot, making comfort, reliability and safety central to the purchasing decision.
Cookers National Fleet Safety and Compliance Manager Matthew Weinert said the company’s goal was to become “1% better, every day”.
“We have just put a new Scania P-series into the fleet to handle some of our regional deliveries,” Weinert said.
“The driver will be away through the week in the truck, so reliability and safety are critical. We have seen already in the first few weeks on the road that the truck is returning impressive fuel figures.”
Fuel data points to significant savings
Cookers is using the Scania fleet management portal to monitor fuel consumption and driver performance, allowing the company to compare the new truck with other vehicles operating on similar routes and carrying comparable payloads.
Early results indicate the P 360 is using significantly less fuel, despite its engine still being run in.
Cookers expects the improvement to deliver thousands of dollars in annual savings once the truck has completed approximately 100,000 kilometres, in addition to the hours spent idling and operating its power take-off system.
“We have been able to track the fuel burn and compare it with other trucks doing similar routes and carrying similar payloads, and the Scania fuel consumption is a lot better,” Weinert said.
“It works out to thousands of dollars in savings on fuel, which is obviously good from a financial perspective, but it also means you’re burning less fuel, so your environmental emissions are down as well.”
Because the truck regularly idles and uses its PTO to pump oil during deliveries and collections, Cookers will schedule servicing according to engine hours rather than kilometres.
The P 360 will be serviced at intervals of approximately 900 to 1000 engine hours under a Scania Repair and Maintenance program, giving Cookers greater visibility of its operating costs.
Driver training supports safer operation
Scania provided driver training shortly after the truck entered service, covering the Scania Retarder and the vehicle’s onboard Driver Support scoring system.
Cookers can use information from the system to assess driving behaviour, fuel efficiency and opportunities for improvement.
“The detail provided is exceptional,” Weinert said.
The truck is fitted with a driver airbag, side curtain rollover airbags, lane departure warning and advanced emergency braking.
Its downhill cruise control and Retarder can also slow the vehicle without relying heavily on the service brakes or forcing the engine to operate at high revs in a lower gear.
Visibility was another important consideration, particularly because Cookers drivers frequently enter confined loading areas behind restaurants and other food businesses.
“The vision is actually excellent, which helps enhance safety outcomes for everyone and reduces damage to the vehicle, ultimately leading to less time off the road,” Weinert said.
Comfort critical for regional work
The P-series cab, all-round air suspension and ergonomic layout have also received positive feedback from drivers.
“Everyone who has driven the Scania so far loves it,” Weinert said.
“It’s comfortable, quiet, roomy, has great ergonomics and, with the all-round air suspension, the ride is very pleasant, laden or unladen.”
Scania configured the truck specifically for Cookers’ regional delivery task, with the 360hp engine selected to provide sufficient power and torque for the routes and terrain it will encounter.
Scania Key Account Manager Tevfik Onguc said the specification was designed to support productivity while reducing driver fatigue.
“Scania has configured the truck to meet Cookers’ exact needs for intra-state delivery,” Onguc said.
“The 360hp engine has plenty of power and torque for the terrain it will cover, as well as air suspension all round for a very smooth ride. These elements will help reduce driver fatigue and keep the driver and other road users safe.”
Cookers said its experience with Scania’s Victorian sales and service team had been positive, with direct access to product and technical support contributing to the decision.
The performance of the first P-series could now lead to further Scania trucks joining the fleet, including vehicles dedicated to used cooking oil collection.
