All vehicles in the Elliotts fleet are now IVECO models following the merchant’s introduction of six new Daily trucks earlier in the year.
With branches throughout Hampshire and Dorset, Elliotts has been running IVECO trucks in its customer delivery fleet for 15 years now. The 179 year old firm began replacing an ageing fleet of 18-tonne trucks with new, more versatile 26t IVECO Stralis back in 2006 and has been switching its smaller vehicles over to the brand too.
After taking delivery of six new 35C14A8 3.5t GVW Daily trucks in February, each fitted with a VFS drop-side body, the Elliotts fleet now totals 43 vehicles — all of which are now IVECO models. The switch is said to have been well-received by management and drivers alike, and the company has since ordered a further three.
The decision to replace its old vehicles with the IVECO Daily came after the business ordered a 7.2-tonne Daily 72C18HA8 with a tail-lift equipped Luton body for its Lymington-based kitchen, bathroom and bedroom business last year.
Gary Tippen, Elliotts’ Operations Support Manager, consulted with the firm’s drivers to identify the optimal vehicle specification. He said: “We’re keen to support the drivers with the right tools for their job and so far with Daily the drivers absolutely love them. If we look after the driver and they’re comfortable in a lovely cab with a nice gearbox, air conditioning and built-in navigation, they’re going to look after the vehicle far better, and that’s true across the range.”
The latest vehicles are deemed to have been “carefully curated” to make the most of the model’s “premium comfort and functionality features” to boost productivity and driver satisfaction. Building on the “already functional” Business trimline, air conditioning comes standard as does cruise control and electrically heated/adjustable door mirrors.
New LED headlights are said to increase low-light visibility and hazard perception by up to 15% whilst the 7” touchscreen HI-CONNECT infotainment system with DAB and Bluetooth features navigation as well as Apple CarPlay & Android Auto functionality. Furthermore, the TomTom LIVE-based navigation system can be adjusted to take in to account the overall vehicle size and weight to “banish unsuitable route choices” and therefore improve delivery times.
Working closely with local bodybuilder VFS Southampton, modifications to the bodywork have been undertaken “to ensure the greatest levels of operational safety”. Extra grab handles, steps and load tie-down hooks have been incorporated, while the tailboard features graphics to increase other road-users’ awareness of potential blind-spots.
Currently, the company runs its vehicles on a 10-year change cycle and expects the Daily fleet to cover 30,000mi annually. Most of the overall fleet is covered by the IVECO ON 3XL R&M Package with every vehicle connected to the IVECO Control Room. Running data is constantly monitored to provide early warning of maintenance requirements to aid in forward planning to increase uptime and lower the Total Cost of Ownership. Finally, the vehicle marque’s reactive dealer-operated 24/7 Assistance Non-Stop roadside support service is said to be “always on-hand if needed”.
For more information on the IVECO range, enter www.IVECO.com whilst details of its official dealer network can be found via www.iveco-dealership.co.uk
