South coast builders’ merchants Elliotts has gone 100% Iveco across its fleet after switching its 3.5-tonne vehicles over to the brand.
The 179-year-old group, which is based throughout Hampshire and Dorset, has been running Iveco trucks in its 43-strong customer delivery fleet for 15 years now and has now switched its smaller vehicles over to the brand too.
It initially took delivery of six new 35C14A8 3.5t GVW Daily vehicles in February, each fitted with a VFS drop-side body. The vehicles have been well received among management and the drivers, and the company has since ordered a further three.
The new chassis cabs all feature the 140hp 2.3-litre diesel with the eight-speed Hi-Matic self-shifting gearbox.
The vehicles have also been modified in partnership with VFS Southampton to incorporate extra grab handles, steps and load tie-down hooks, while the tailboard features graphics to increase other road-users’ awareness of potential blind-spots.
Elliotts’ operations support manager, Gary Tippen, said he’s received nothing but great feedback about Daily, leading already to repeat orders.
“We’re keen to support the drivers with the right tools for their job and so far with Daily the drivers absolutely love them,” he explained. “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.”
Currently, the company runs its vehicles on a 10-year change cycle and expects the Daily fleet to cover 30,000 miles annually. Most of the overall fleet is covered by the Iveco On 3XL Repair & Maintenance Package with every vehicle connected to the Iveco Control Room.
