Bradford Building Supplies adds seven Isuzu Grafters to fleet

Yeovil-based Bradfords Building Supplies has added a further seven Izuzu Grafter 3.5-tonne tipper trucks to its 210-strong fleet following the arrival of two of the vehicles last year.

The company now has over 15 operating from branches across the south-west.

Bradford Building Supplies head of transport, Martin Caddick, said: “We originally had our first Isuzus way back in 1998, so our experience of them is well proven over the years.

“Last year, we took two new Isuzu Grafters as fleet additions. For 2022, the seven Grafter fleet additions are all tipper models.”

The latest Isuzu Grafter N35.125 (S) trucks, which feature TGS tipper bodies, will operate from branches within the West Country.

Each truck is anticipated to cover approximately 20,000 miles per annum, over an anticipated five to six year working life.

The Grafters will be delivering either loose aggregate or building materials from branches to local businesses, building companies and construction sites.

Caddick added: “None of the trucks in our distribution fleet have an easy life but the Isuzus have certainly proved themselves to be reliable workhorses.

“One of our 12-plate Grafters has now covered well over 250,000 miles and is still going strong on a daily basis.

“We also deliver a lot of product to domestic customer properties where access can be very limited.

“Again, this is where the Grafter comes into its own as the narrow track of the tipper truck is excellent for this type of property. Basically, if you can get the car onto the property, then the Grafter will fit too.”

Martin said the extensive Isuzu service network in the south west region was another reason for choosing Grafters.

He added: “The dealers are all very experienced long-term Isuzu dealers who really do pull out all the stops to keep our trucks out on the road working productively. Nothing is too much trouble for ITUK and their dealers, which is why we keep coming back for more trucks.”

Bradfords Building Supplies goes back over 250 years with records showing that the business has existed since 1770.

It still operates as a family business, supplying building materials in the south-west, and operating through 45 regional branches, with its main branch support centre based in Yeovil, Somerset.

Lee Barwick, fleet sales manager at Isuzu Truck UK said: “With the relationship between our two companies going back over 22 years, we feel a great sense of pride and pleasure in seeing the continued growth of the Grafter within the Bradfords Building Supplies fleet.

“Our 3.5 tonne Grafter truck range is ideally compatible with a wide range of bodies designed specifically for the building and construction industry, which now forms one of the biggest, and most popular, market sectors for the Isuzu marque.”