MAN TGX 26.640 voted ‘Truck of the Year 2023’ at the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards.

The MAN TGX 26.640 has been voted ‘Fleet Truck of the Year 2023’ at the annual Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards in Belfast.

The award, sponsored by Radius/DCI was presented at a glittering ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in South Belfast which was attended by around 600 guests from all sectors of the transport and logistics industry and compered by the BBC’s Mark Simpson.

Organised by the Hillsborough based publishers of Export & Freight magazine, 4SM (NI) Ltd, the event, which was first staged way back in 2001, is Ireland’s premier platform of recognition for those operating in the transport and logistics sector; it celebrates and rewards the very best in an industry that continues to meet its challenges head-on with resilience and perseverance.

Voted for by a panel of industry experts, including company owners, fleet operators and owner drivers, the comments heaped on the MAN TGX included. 

“The driver’s cab is the heart of the MAN TGX. Because comfort in the cab means easier workflows and faster completion of your haulage jobs. Ideal conditions for higher driver motivation, and that translates to an investment that pays you daily returns. The controls of the MAN TipMatic® automatic gear shift system situated directly on the steering column stalk is just one example. With this design, there’s now all kinds of free space.

“And a host of clever storage areas and compartments make great use of the additional room. The overhead lockers above the windscreen, multifunctional compartments and secure, pull-out drawers in the centre part of the instrument panel are particularly practical in a driver’s day-to-day. Depending on the cab option, various storage boxes, compartments and an in-set or pull-out fridge are also available. The TGX cab, for instance, boasts more than 1,100 litres of stowage space, ensuring that you can neatly fit in everything you need – even for several days on the road.

“Another feature is the trailblazing MAN SmartSelect system. It makes using the multimedia system child’s play even in demanding driving conditions. Here, too, comfort and safety was our inspiration for eliminating the touchscreen. With MAN Smart-Select, functions such as maps, music, cameras and more can be selected via a user-friendly dial with a rest. There’s so much more to discover in our driver’s cabs, so get in, get comfortable and enjoy all the possibilities.

“The driver’s workspace is streamlined, while the rest and sleep area is the perfect place to relax, ensuring that you are always well rested and highly motivated when it’s time to get the job done. That helps to enhance your safety too – as do our reliable assistance systems. In addition to familiar assistants, highlights include improvement of the sensor systems so that, among other things, pedestrians and cyclists in front of the truck can also be detected and taken into account in the warning and braking strategy. Systems and system improvements such as distance warning system or Front Detection, traffic sign recognition, AttentionGuard and Reversing Motion System help the driver to concentrate on the traffic situation.”

One of Northern Ireland's leading warehousing and distribution companies, Maxwell Freight Services, attended the awards and Terry Maxwell, Managing Director, added: "It was very interesting listening to the judges' comments. We’ve operated MAN Trucks since 2000 and we've been impressed with their performance, particularly in terms of fuel efficiency. We’re also delighted with the customer-focused relationship we have with the local Sales Manager Brian Beattie and the service and support we receive from John Donnelly and the team at our local MAN dealer RK Trucks Centre in Carryduff. Both understand our business and deliver a level of service which we trust and rely on.”

Collecting the award, on behalf of MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, Simon Wood, Press & PR Manager, said: “We’re delighted to accept this award and see it as a true indication that the MAN TGX is exactly what the market demands. At MAN we pride ourselves in delivering our customers a range of vehicles that are fuel efficient, technologically advanced, safe and robust, which in turn are supported by a range of customer services that offer real tangible business benefits.

"The MAN TGX has found favour with countless fleets across Ireland and this award helps recognise the fact that we both deliver and support a range of vehicles that our customers can rely on and value".

The worthy winner, the MAN TGX 26.640, beat off stiff competition from four other truck manufacturers, Iveco (S-Way) Renault (T High 480) Mercedes-Benz (Actros L 2548 Big space) and Volvo (FH I-Save Tractor)