Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK: Pharmaceutical distributor, Polar Speed Thermologistics, has added 10 new vehicles to its fleet: seven Mercedes Sprinter vans and three 5-ton Mercedes chassis-cabs and 4 metre box bodies, the latter a new fleet specification.
All the new vehicles have Thermo King refrigeration units supplied and installed by Marshall Fleet Solutions. The units are maintained and serviced under an existing contract.
This 5-ton Mercedes chassis-cabs with 4-metre box bodies is a new specification for Polar Speed
Seven Thermo King V200 multi-temperature units were fitted into Mercedes Sprinter vans and three V300 multi-temperature units were fitted on the 5-tonners.
The vehicles operate at two precise positive temperatures: 5°C and 20°C in separate compartments to protect the temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products delivered in the UK by Polar Speed. Every vehicle is fitted with calibrated onboard temperature recorders to monitor accuracy.
Richard Holmes, director of supply chain, Polar Speed, says: “We selected Marshall Fleet Solutions once more because they deliver what we need, when we need it and keep our vehicles on the road, and crucially, at the temperatures we need to operate at.”
Andrew Howells, managing director, Marshall Fleet Solutions says: “We have worked with Polar Speed over a long period of time; we understand what they need to make their business successful, and work with them to deliver top-class solutions.”
Polar Speed Thermologistics works solely in the healthcare sector delivering for pharma manufacturers and NHS trusts. It operates 120 vehicles, predominantly vans, all dual-compartment and temperature-controlled that meet specifications set by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
The temperature control technology is combined with satellite navigation to give ‘live’ location and temperature of vehicles. Polar Speed is the largest distributor of seasonal flu vaccines and last year delivered just under one million pharmaceutical consignments at an average on-time and in-full service level of 99.4%.
