Phoenix-Based Fresh Freight Relies On Peterbilt 579 UltraLoft Fleet To Keep Food Fresh Over The Long Haul

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Matt Heroux, CEO of Phoenix-based Fresh Freight, purchased his first 10 Peterbilt 579 UltraLoft trucks in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since. (Photo courtesy of Peterbilt.)

Fresh Freight, a food transportation specialist based in Phoenix, Arizona, has been in business since 2016, but a real shift took place in 2019 when the company purchased its first Peterbilt 579 trucks, all specced with UltraLoft cabs. The company’s CEO Matt Heroux was a fleet manager for years before venturing out on his own. His goal has always been to offer “the freshest food using the best technology out there.” The 579 UltraLoft, coupled with trailers featuring built-in systems designed to filter out bacteria, mold, allergens, gas, and other harmful airborne particles, fills the bill for Heroux and his drivers.

The Best For Fresh Freight’s Drivers & Customers

"From a driver recruitment standpoint, once the word is out that you only have Peterbilt 579 UltraLofts in your fleet the rest is easy. Drivers are paid a base salary, vs. the industry norm of mileage, and are expected to be over-the-road truckers capable of delivering a white-glove treatment where service is critical,” Heroux says. “While Peterbilts might not be the cheapest trucks on the market, you get what you pay for and that is the exact same way I run my business. We don’t win much business based on pricing, but rather on service. I tell my customers all the time if you want the cheapest truck I’m not that guy, but if you want it done right I am your guy.”

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Fresh Freight sticks with the Peterbilt brand and this specific model because it helps recruit drivers and ultimately results in better service for the customer. (Photo courtesy of Peterbilt.)

More Peterbilt 579 Details

The Peterbilt 579 is available with a PACCAR MX-11 or MX-13 engine that produces between 335 and 510 horsepower (250 and 380 kilowatts) and from 1,150 to 1,850 pounds-foot (1,559 to 2,508 newton-meters) of torque. To complete the integrated powertrain, Peterbilt also offers a PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission and 40K axles that give the heavy-duty truck a maximum gross combination weight of 80,000 pounds (36,287 kilograms).

Peterbilt introduced the 579 UltraLoft roughly two years ago. The 80-inch-long sleeper cab incorporates what the company refers to as “Human-Centered Design” and offers more than 70 cubic feet (roughly 2 cubic meters) of space for appliances, storage, and more. There are day cabs and standard sleeper cabs available with a wide range of interior options, as well.

Source: Peterbilt