£1.9M Iveco Daily fleet flows into Plumbase
Iveco is in the process of delivering 107 new Iveco Daily light commercials to plumbing, heating and bathroom specialist Plumbase, a division of Grafton Merchanting GB, the fourth largest builders merchant in the UK.
The deal represents investment of approximately £1.9 million and will see the 3.5 tonne vehicles spread over 100 different Plumbase and Plumbline branches nationwide. They will be used to deliver plumbing, heating and bathroom supplies directly to building sites, tradesmen and DIY consumers.
The order comprises 83 Daily 35S12 panel vans built on a 3,950mm wheelbase to offer 15.6 m³ of load space. Each of these vehicles benefits from a wide side-sliding door and twin rear doors, with new hinges allowing the driver to select fixed rear door opening angles of either 90°, 180° or 270°. The delivery also includes a mixture of 24 Daily 35S12 and 35S13 chassis cabs – 17 mounted with box bodies and tail-lifts. The remaining seven feature bespoke bodies which are half curtainside and half box, with tail-lifts, to ensure maximum flexibility.
Phil Alexander, Head of Transport at Grafton Merchanting GB, says: “Iveco Daily’s have formed the mainstay of the Plumbase fleet for nearly ten years. It was a simple decision to replace like for like based on their proven performance and reliability.
“Each vehicle has a demanding role, carrying out multiple deliveries six days a week to a diverse customer base. This is where the Daily’s exceptional manoeuvrability really comes into its own, as we frequently need to deliver to properties with limited access – often in urban areas where narrow streets can be lined with parked cars,” he adds.
The new Daily’s replace a fleet of five year old vehicles and are expected to remain in service until 2015, backed up by a comprehensive Iveco Elements repair and maintenance agreement. This allows all Plumbase centres to arrange servicing at their local Iveco dealer, guaranteeing that all vehicles will be serviced by manufacturer trained technicians using genuine Iveco parts.
The fleet is powered by 2.3 litre diesel engines which offer a constant maximum torque over a wide range, and from low engine speeds, ensuring the vehicles are comfortable in heavy traffic and respond quickly to acceleration – even when carrying a full load.
In addition to the fitment of the latest generation ESP (Electronic Stability Program), which is now standard on all new Dailys, Grafton Merchanting has equipped the vehicles with reversing cameras, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity to ensure maximum fleet safety and efficiency.
The 107 new Dailys are being supplied by Stormont Truck & Van and join a fleet totalling more than 400 commercial vehicles operated by Grafton Merchanting GB, comprising 211 light commercials and 213 heavy trucks. The combined fleet supports well-known brands including Buildbase, Jackson Building Centres, Buildbase Civils & Lintels, Hirebase, PDM and Hendricks Lovell.
