Tanker investment sees Rix hit a century

MILESTONE: A new Rix Petroleum tanker being prepared by family business Cobo in Spain

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Rix Petroleum Ltd has hit a century with its latest investment.

The Hull-based business has invested almost £2m in ten DAF tankers, taking its national fleet past the 100 mark.

The trucks will initially work in the company’s heartland of Hull and East Yorkshire, delivering agricultural and commercial fuels to farms and businesses across the region, as well as domestic heating oil to households.

Over time, some will also be dispatched to the company’s other 15 depots across the UK, either to extend the fleet in those areas or to replace older tankers.

Rix Petroleum managing director Duncan Lambert said the trucks were due for delivery next month.

But he added that before they would reach the company, they were set for a long journey as despite being made in the UK, the tankers would be fitted out with the latest technology in Santander, Spain, by family company Cobo.

Mr Lambert said: “Essentially, we buy the chassis from DAF, and these are then loaded on to a boat and shipped to Spain where they are made into Rix trucks by Cobo.

“Cobo put the tanker onto the chassis, install up-to-date metering systems, eight CCTV cameras around the vehicle, and a computer system that directly communicates with our delivery software.

“The tankers are also branded up with our colours while they are there.

“Once this is completed, they’re put back on a boat to be shipped to the UK and arrive in Immingham, which is where we pick them up.”

The tankers have a capacity of 18,600 litres over five compartments, meaning they can carry a range of different fuels in a single load.

Mr Lambert added they chose the Spanish company to equip the tankers due to their passion for quality and delivery lead times.

“We went to visit the factory and were very impressed,” he said.

“Cobo live and breathe tankers. They’re also a family business, as is Rix, so understand our values and commitment to deliver on time, every time.”

He added the investment would help futureproof Rix’s fuel delivery business.

Mr Lambert said: “This move will ensure our fleet continues to be able to meet the challenges of efficient fuel delivery, enabling us to keep our customers’ businesses moving and their houses warm.

“We now have more than 100 tankers working across the country, which support the ongoing growth of the business on a national scale.”