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New Kenworth T370s Help Beverage Distributor Increase Driver Productivity


WEBWIRE

PACCAR Engine-Equipped Medium Duty Truck Hauls More Beer

ATLANTA, Ga. – As part of a new distribution strategy, Atlanta Beverage Company placed into service eight new Kenworth T370s early this year to haul bulk-loaded trailers on specific routes. As a result, the T370s have already significantly increased driver productivity, allowing the company to deliver nearly 30 percent more beer while also reducing delivery time by more than 15 percent.


“The Kenworth T370 has really fit well into our new strategy with its quality, dependability and the components we need to get the job done,” said Brian Dumas, fleet manager for the Atlanta, Ga.-based Anheuser-Busch distributor.

The Kenworth T370s have helped drive Atlanta Beverage Company’s successful implementation of its new delivery strategy, which was introduced specifically for T370-covered routes to stores that order products in larger volumes.

The Kenworth T370s, equipped with PACCAR PX-8 engines, possess the power and torque to handle the additional weight from the switch to bulk-loaded trailers from side-loaded trailers, explained Dumas. “The PACCAR PX-8 engine provides the trucks with plenty of power to get around, particularly up a challenging hill on a half-mile stretch of U.S. Interstate 20 on the west side of Atlanta,” Dumas said.


To increase productivity, the company also palletized the Kenworth T370 routes so that all the products needed for the day for each store are placed on pallets in advance at the warehouse. Unlike the company’s typical routes, Kenworth T370 drivers do not have to pick and sort individual products for delivery at each store site. They simply deliver the prepared pallet, enabling Kenworth T370 drivers to deliver more products working 10 hours per day rather than 12.

“As a result, we’ve seen sales increase by an average of 30 percent on those routes now handled by the Kenworth T370s,” said Kelly Aikens, sales manager for Atlanta Beverage Company. “That means an average increase in sales from the previous 170,000 cases annually for each of those routes to 220,000 cases.”

Besides its eight Kenworth T370s, Atlanta Beverage also operates 14 Kenworth T300s. Dumas said service from local Kenworth dealer, MHC Kenworth - Atlanta, also contributes to operational efficiency.


According to Dumas, the company’s drivers appreciate Kenworth’s attention to detail on both models, particularly the new T370. The Kenworth T370’s automatic transmission works well with the PACCAR PX-8 engine, shifting gears smoothly and easily. The placement of the gauges makes it easy for drivers to see crucial information at a glance and the standard passenger-side power windows allow them to raise and lower the passenger windows easily. The T370’s doors close snugly, which contributes to a quiet, comfortable ride.

“The drivers also appreciate the T370’s 50-degree wheel cut, which makes it easier to maneuver,” Dumas said. “That’s pretty important in an urban area like Atlanta. As it comes time to replace our older model trucks, we intend to buy more Kenworths.”



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