Fraikin supplies first vehicles to Menzies Distribution
8 December 2005
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Menzies Distribution has taken delivery of nine new vans and trucks, representing the start of a new agreement with Fraikin, which will see it act as a key supplier of commercial vehicles on contract hire.
The delivery is comprised of four Iveco Daily 65C17 vans, together with five Isuzu 7.5 tonne rigids, which have been fitted with 14 ft and 20 ft fast action reflex curtainside bodies to make deliveries faster and simpler for the drivers. The bodies have been built by Scottish-based bodybuilder Tekbo.
The Isuzu's join two identical models which were acquired by Menzies Distribution six months ago on trial, and this latest expansion follows their exceptionally good performance on the fleet.
Stuart McLean, Logistics Manager at Menzies Distribution, a division of John Menzies plc, explains: "As a business we deliver in a multi-drop fashion to over 20,000 retailers every morning and have found the Isuzu to be well matched to our requirements. Its light chassis provides a healthy payload, and the cab is mounted lower to the ground and is therefore easier for our drivers to get in and out of."
"The Isuzu has the capacity of a truck, yet drives more like a van," he says. "Our drivers are typically van drivers, which makes the transition to 7.5 tonnes easier with the Isuzu than with other similar sized vehicles."
The new vehicles will operate between the company's depots in Glasgow and Leeds, and are expected to cover up to 30,000 miles a year, delivering a variety of different newspapers and magazines.
"We have been talking to Fraikin for some time now, their customer focus and attitude coupled with an account management presence in Scotland and the necessary resources throughout the UK to support our business is what attracted us to their offer," he adds.
The contract hire agreement with Fraikin includes collection and delivery of the vehicles for servicing, repair and maintenance, road fund licensing, tyres and comprehensive breakdown support.