A leading Melbourne food distributor is switching from manual to automatic transmissions in its fleet of medium-duty distribution trucks as a result of the increased efficiency, safer operation and lower maintenance costs Allison transmissions deliver.

MELBOURNE, Australia -Redi Milk, which operates a fleet of medium-duty distribution trucks of various brands, has changed its vehicle purchasing policy as a result of the success of adding a new UD MK11 automatic. Until the Allison equipped UD was added to the Redi Milk fleet, the company had operated mostly manual and AMT equipped trucks.

According to Redi Milk's fleet manager, Nigel Anson, dependence on automatic trucks is inevitable for food transport and distribution industries, due to constant stop-start duty cycles and increasing traffic congestion.

"We purchased the UD MK11 automatic because it seemed the perfect truck for our operations, since drivers are stopping and starting all the time, delivering to numerous retail outlets," Anson said. "Automatics are the way of the future, and really, the only choice was to move with the times or get stuck in the past."

"The Allison automatic eliminates clutch wear, reduces the need for gearbox overhauls and drastically reduces maintenance costs and brake wear," said Anson.

"It also contributes to better safety by lowering levels of driver fatigue. An automatic transmission allows drivers to concentrate on negotiating traffic or maneuvering the truck and not having to worry about clutch control and gear selection. Put simply, it allows the driver to focus on controlling the truck," he said.

According to Anson, drivers love it because it is so easy to operate and manoeuver, particularly in frequent stop-start conditions and increasingly busy Melbourne roads.

"Our drivers visit up to 50 customers per day and are behind the wheel for six to eight hours per shift, which equates to more than 1000 gear changes a day. Of course, in an automatic all of those shifts are managed by the transmission," he added. "The automatic is more nimble, has better acceleration in city traffic and is more efficient and easier to use than manual trucks."

"When you take into account all the factors including the fatigue reduction, lower maintenance and better efficiencies, automatics are ideal for our needs, and all new trucks we buy in the future will be automatics," concluded Nigel.

The 250 horsepower UD MK 11 Redi Milk purchased has now covered around 15,000km and in that time has completely convinced Anson of its value.

UD offers its range of MK and PK medium duty trucks with Allison 2500 Series fully automatic transmissions as a factory-fitted option in Australia, which over the past five years has proved popular across a range of vocations and industries.

About Redi Milk
Redi Milk is a family-owned distribution company serving Melbourne's south eastern suburbs, and east to the Gippsland town of Warragul - an area spanning more than 700 square kilometres. It has distributed milk and small goods to restaurants, milk bars and takeaway shops for more than 20 years, and the company prides itself on maintaining a modern fleet of well-maintained vehicles.

About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission is the world's largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. military vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school and transit), motor homes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy and mining) and military vehicles (wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 2,800 people. Allison has manufacturing facilities and customization centers located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Hungary, with a global presence, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. Allison also has more than 1,500 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com.

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