For the fourth consecutive fleet replacement order since 2014, Groundforce, part of the Vp plc group, has ordered its latest replacement trucks from Isuzu Truck UK, with the recent arrival of two new Isuzu 13.5 tonne rigids into their fleet.
Vp Groundforce now operates 16 Isuzus in its 20-strong commercial vehicle fleet, however these are their first 13.5 tonne Isuzus, as all the previous three orders were for 7.5 tonne drop side trucks.
Earlier this year, parent company Vp plc simplified customer access to its attachments business by bringing together all its attachment companies under one branded umbrella, Vp Groundforce. This new division aligned pile cropper specialist company Mr Cropper, newly acquired attachment experts Sandhurst, and piling equipment supplier Piletec under one collective brand called Groundforce Attachments.
The previous 14 Isuzu N75.190 rigids were supplied to Vp subsidiaries Piletec and Mr Cropper, however these two latest trucks are the first new Isuzus to work within Vp’s former Sandhurst subsidiary, and bear the latest corporate livery of the new company Vp Groundforce.
“With the addition of these two new trucks, Isuzu is very much a firm fixture within our fleet. All ongoing ageing non-Isuzu trucks due for disposal in due course will be automatically replaced by new Isuzus going forward,” said David O’Brien, project manager – attachments, Groundforce Attachments.
The new Isuzu F135.240 (E) 4×2 chassis cabs feature specialist aluminium drop side bodies built by PPS Manchester and have a payload of approximately 8.5 tonne. Both trucks were supplied on a four-year contract hire deal with BNP Paribas Leasing that includes R&M for the full term.
The Isuzus are fully FORS compliant and are expected to cover approximately 40,000 miles per annum. Like all the previous Isuzus, the new trucks were supplied by Warrington Vehicle Centre, as part of the long-standing working relationship between the two companies.
One of the new Isuzu 13.5 tonners will be working out of the Vp Groundforce branch in Birmingham, whilst the other Isuzu will be based at the company’s depot in Rochester in Kent. Both depots require larger GVW trucks as they service much larger geographical areas than the other Vp Groundforce depots.
“Since the first Isuzus started work with Vp back in 2014, they have each consistently performed well and provided the Vp operating subsidiaries with reliable service out on the road, as well as market leading payload, which is essential for Groundforce Attachments delivery and collection service. It is really pleasing to see that Isuzu now forms the majority representation within their fleet,” said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.
