The French Garden puts Renault Trucks Turbo Compound to the test

Leading fine fresh produce importer, The French Garden, has taken delivery of its first Renault Trucks, adding three T480 High 4x2 Turbo Compound tractor units to its high-pressure, time-sensitive operations serving the world’s leading hotels and restaurants.

Supplied by David Ponton at Norfolk Truck and Van, the new head-turning T480 TCs, finished in metallic red paint with matching Chereau refrigerated trailers, are already proving their worth on The French Garden’s demanding schedule. Loaded in Rungis Market, Paris, and running six days a week into the company’s New Covent Garden base in the UK, the T480s then deliver onwards across London, the South East, the North, and West, as well as heading to Heathrow Airport for global exports. 

Previously running competitor models on contract hire, The French Garden turned to Renault Trucks after consulting other hauliers, with first-class service and backup support proving key to the decision. The French Garden’s Transport Manager Garry Boyle explained: “Reliability is critical in our business. When you’re delivering premium fruit and vegetables to the UK’s top chefs and five-star hotels, there is no room for error. Our customers expect the best, and we must deliver—no excuses. Whether it’s getting the finest seasonal produce to Park Lane’s most exclusive dining rooms or ensuring the best possible produce arrives to one of our many international customers including those in Barbados, The Bahamas, The Maldives, Singapore and many more, our vehicles need to be on their A-game.” 

Equipped with Renault Trucks’ latest DE13 TC engine for optimum performance, the engine’s Turbo Compound technology optimises fuel efficiency and performance, providing increased torque, resulting in improved engine responsiveness. For greater fuel savings, Renault Trucks’ Smart Torque Control solution maximises the time spent in the zone with the best engine efficiency to deliver the required torque when needed.  Additionally, the Optivision Map Based gear shift strategy for FUEL ECO anticipates topography and ECO Cruise control with Optiroll works to further control fuel consumption.  The vehicles have also all been specified with fixed roof deflector and side deflectors for improved aerodynamics. 

With around 35% of The French Garden’s mileage involving empty trucks on motorways, fuel economy was a major factor in the vehicle selection, as Garry Boyle explained: “The Turbo Compound engine delivers the fuel savings we were looking for, especially when running on cruise control on long motorway trips.”

The T480s have been specified with Renault Trucks’ latest driver assistance and safety technologies including Forward Collision Warning System with Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and blind spot camera. Additionally, the vehicles come with a four-year prepaid subscription to Optifleet Drive, allowing activity monitoring and remote downloads of driver card data and tachograph memory. 

Beyond performance and economy, The French Garden has taken advantage of Renault Trucks’ factory-applied custom paint option to personalise key vehicle features in matching metallic red with minimal impact on delivery time. The trucks have also been equipped with an array of optional extras for driver appeal including luxury heated driver’s seat, leather steering wheel, insulated cab curtains and 40L fridge.

“The driver is like a six-year-old at his birthday party—he is absolutely buzzing to get behind the wheel,” Garry Boyle added. “They love the comfort, the drive, and the whole experience of the Renault Trucks T High.”

Servicing, MOT and brake testing are handled by Norfolk Truck and Van in Enfield, a partnership Garry Boyle describes as invaluable: “They understand the pressure we’re under. If we need a vehicle in for a service or MOT at 6am, they make it happen. That level of support is priceless in this time-critical business.

As we continue to expand our operations, Renault Trucks has proven to be the perfect recipe for success—delivering reliability, efficiency, and service excellence that match the high standards of our prestigious customers.”