Range change

After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie

- John Henderson

At a glance

Make & Model Renault Range-T High 520 T6x2

Pusher TML tractor unit

Engine Renault DTi 13-litre Euro 6d

Power 520hp @ 1430 - 1800rpm

Torque 2550Nm @1000 - 1430rpm

Gearbox 12-speed Optidriver automated manual

Fast approaching its 20th anniversary in 2022, MacRitchie Highland Distribution has thrived by combining blue sky thinking, alongside traditional Scottish values to deliver a range of road transport services for its customer base.

Few firms based so far north operate four or five European services a week and heading in the other direction, there’s also four or five loads to the Outer Hebrides every week. Add in three Glasgow trunks per day, a busy general haulage remit, along with a daily artic supply run for the company’s Wick depot for home deliveries and you’ll get the idea that there’s no such thing as an average day here. That variety keeps owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie on their toes, but the couple still find time to be welcoming hosts for T&D’s visit. Outside in the yard, their six children, who all work either full-time or part-time here, are busy checking manifests to load the next trailers scheduled to depart.

Our interview takes place in the company’s boardroom cum training room, which like the rest of its “grand designs” style office building, is artistically colour coded in the firm’s white and purple corporate identity.