Rubis has taken delivery of a bespoke Renault Trucks D14 rigid, nicknamed the ‘little green truck’, to address the challenge of completing deliveries in difficult locations. Long-standing partner, Spark Commercial Services, has engineered the latest fleet addition specifically for the narrow roads and strict width limits that define fuel distribution across Guernsey.
While the vehicle may be small, the implications are not.
Access constraints drive fleet rethink
Operating across Guernsey and Jersey, Rubis runs a fleet of around 20 vehicles completing up to 30 deliveries per day on highly localised routes. Daily mileage is low – typically 30 to 60 miles – but the physical constraints are significant.
Narrow roads, tight delivery points and regulated vehicle dimensions mean that vehicle size is becoming a limiting factor, particularly as fleets modernise.
“We’re getting to the point where some of the newer vehicles just won’t go everywhere we need them to,” said Matt Bacon, Logistics Supervisor at Rubis.
The D14 has been developed as a direct response. It is built on a short wheelbase with a 7,000-litre aluminium tanker, compared to the 10,000-litre capacity of larger units.
“This one is designed to be able to go anywhere and do anything. If it delivers what we expect, it gives us a clear path forward for replacing more of the fleet.”
Small vehicle, bigger challenge
For distributors, the challenge will feel familiar.
As vehicles become larger, safer and more technologically advanced, they do not always become more suitable for legacy delivery locations – particularly in rural, urban or geographically constrained areas.
Rubis’ approach suggests the future fleet mix is likely to become more diverse as manufacturers seek to address this challenge.
Rather than forcing routes to fit vehicles, the business is exploring whether more specialised, smaller assets can unlock operational flexibility, without compromising compliance or efficiency.
Engineering flexibility into design
The D14 has been built through a multi-stage process, with ADR preparation by Gardner Denver followed by a hand-built tanker installation by Tasca Tankers, incorporating:
- Trident metering systems
- Vapour recovery
- Full petroleum compliance equipment
Crucially, Rubis points to chassis flexibility as a deciding factor: “The key for us is working within very tight width and layout constraints,” Matt comments.
“The Renault Trucks D14 and D16 chassis give us that flexibility. We can move components around, adjust the design and make it work for our application.”
That adaptability, in collaboration with bodybuilders and compliance requirements, was cited as a differentiator over alternative manufacturers.
Responsive partnership
The project also underlines the importance of close supplier relationships when developing specialist fleet solutions.
Rubis has worked with Sparks Commercial Services as part of an ongoing fleet replacement programme, with the latest vehicle representing a further refinement of that partnership.
“If we want to try something different, the answer is never no. It’s always ‘how can we make it work’,” said Matt.
For island-based operations, local support is equally critical, reducing the need to return vehicles to the UK mainland for maintenance or warranty work.
Driver acceptance remains key
Despite the technical focus, driver feedback remains a central consideration.
“The drivers prefer them,” Matt added. “They’re comfortable, well equipped and easy to drive… If the driver is happy, you get a better day’s work.”
As fleets evolve under cost, compliance and transition pressures, the ability to tailor vehicle specifications to specific operational needs may become increasingly important.
Future fleet
Rubis supplies a wide range of fuels across the Channel Islands, including petrol, diesel and heating oil, alongside aviation fuel and marine refuelling for visiting vessels. The business operates across Guernsey and Jersey, serving both domestic and commercial customers with a fleet tailored to the demands of island distribution.
Rob Coxon, Transport Solution Executive at Sparks Commercial Services, highlighted how the company’s partnership with the distributor “allows us to keep refining the specification to meet very specific operational demands.”
Describing the D14 as “a particularly interesting project that is pushing the limits of compact design while still delivering full tanker capability” Rob suggested it could play an important role in Rubis’ future fleet plans.
If successful, the trial could point towards a more modular, application-specific approach to fleet design, rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
Image provided by Renault