In a move which will significantly reduce the company’s transport fleet’s carbon emissions, ASDA the supermarket retailer, has added 50 Euro 5 compliant Volvo FM 440 4x2 Globetrotter-cabbed tractor units equipped with I-Shift transmissions, to its primary distribution fleet.

The retailer has already reduced its transport fleet’s carbon emissions by more than 34,500 tonnes and the introduction of the Euro 5 13-litre engined Volvo’s will make an important further contribution to that reduction.

Supplied through Volvo dealer Crossroads Truck and Bus at Normanton, West Yorkshire, these are the first Euro 5 engined trucks to join the ASDA fleet and the company aims to have 25% of its vehicles Euro 4/5 compliant by the end of 2007. Opting for Euro 5 rather than Euro 4, takes ASDA one step ahead of the legislation, which will be a requirement in the UK and the rest of Europe by October 2009

The Euro 5 Volvo’s reduce NOx emissions by over 60% and particulates by 80% compared to the Euro 3 compliant vehicles they replace. This puts ASDA at the leading edge of reducing transport fleet engine emissions in the UK.

Specifying Volvo’s I-Shift automated transmission is also an important contributor to reducing ASDA’s carbon emissions as it helps maintain fuel economy at optimum levels through the working day by reducing the number of gear shifts made to match the engine output precisely to the conditions over the road. ASDA’s policy is to have 100% of its fleet fitted with automated gearboxes and the latest engine emissions-reducing technology by 2010.