Isuzu Truck UK has supplied a further 50 13.5-tonne refrigerated trucks into the national distribution fleet at JJ Foodservice.
The wholesaler now has 77 of the vehicles within its 144-strong refrigerated fleet.
A further 20 Isuzu F135.240(E) fridge trucks are on order for later this year, which will take the overall Isuzu representation at the firm to over 94%, covering both 7.5 tonne and 13.5-tonne models.
The move is part of a planned change to the company’s business model, away from 18-tonne GVW to more cost effective and productive 13.5-tonne models.
JJ Foodservice said the decision has been vindicated with the firm able to undertake the same operational workload with the smaller trucks.
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It added that its previous 18-tonne rigids were not compliant in the London conurbation, so the switch was an ideal fit, meeting all the company’s stringent operational criteria.
The standard JJ Foodservice specification for the first 50 new 13.5-tonne rigids is based on the Isuzu F135.240(E) chassis fitted with a Paneltex 6.3m twin compartment refrigerated box body. The follow up order for 20 Isuzus will have a mix of Gray & Adams and Solomon refrigerated bodies.
All feature GAH EXD703 refrigeration systems as standard, designed for operational temperatures between -18° C and +4° C, and each refrigerated body has a front compartment for frozen products, with separate nearside single door access, whilst a flexible movable bulkhead separates the front frozen compartment from the rear compartment, where chilled and ambient products are located with access through triple rear doors.
All the fridge trucks are working on a five-day-a-week distribution operation across the UK, operating from each of the company’s 11 branches nationwide. With an anticipated working life of five years in the fleet, the Isuzu 13.5 tonners are working on multi-drop delivery cycles, handling between 15 and 23 drops per day per truck.
Commented Lee Tansley, national fleet sales manager, Isuzu Truck UK: “Now having over two years’ experience of running Isuzu 13.5 tonne rigids in their fleet, JJ Foodservice acknowledges that the specification works really well for their business, crucially meeting their stated criteria in terms of compliance, productivity and reduced cost of operation. Not only do these new 13.5 tonne rigids give JJ Foodservice the reliability required for their business, but the proven manoeuvrability and flexibility of the trucks in urban areas, due to the compact footprint, is another significant benefit for the company."
