As part of a planned expansion programme, VMS Fleet Management Ltd has ordered a further 37 new Isuzu dual-compartment refrigerated 7.5 tonne rigids for their rental division VMS Vehicle Hire, in a deal worth in excess of £2 million overall.
Scheduled for delivery in time for the peak summer period, the 37 new Isuzu rigids feature GAH refrigeration systems on a mix of Coolertech and Polar multi-temperature refrigerated bodies, with all the vehicles specified with tuckaway tail lifts. Each Isuzu has a pallet-width nearside door for access to the frozen section and the fridge body specification features a mix of double and triple rear access doors.
The 37 Isuzu N75.190 rigids are now in operation across the UK working out of the various VMS rental sites nationwide.
“This £2m Isuzu truck deal is a significant investment for VMS, however, for refrigerated rental operation at 7.5 tonnes, the Isuzus have excellent payload and are proven to be very reliable in operation. The decision to further invest in the Isuzu marque within our rental fleet is based on our overall previous experience where we have found them to be robust and reliable operators,” said Martin James, managing director, VMS Fleet Management Ltd.
Martin continues, “Over the years we have also experienced an excellent service offering from Isuzu, through their strong nationwide dealer network support. This is vital for our rental business, especially in busy periods, and in particular with their ability to accommodate out of hours service work.”
VMS currently operates in excess of 5000 vehicles in its overall fleet, with over 1000 vehicles in its rental fleet alone, of which 75% are fridge vehicles. The company anticipates keeping the new Isuzu trucks for a least a seven-year period although that it will review the overall vehicle performance at five years, with each vehicle anticipated to cover approximately 50,000 km per annum.
“The 7.5 tonne market continues to defy the market predictions and the Isuzu Truck N75.190 is as popular as ever, especially within the rental market where its reliability and payload are critical factors. The confidence of VMS in supporting the Isuzu Truck brand for many years is really appreciated and the company continues to grow with Isuzu very much at the heart of its refrigerated fleet,” said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.
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