The new fleet has been delivered to Aliaxis’s plastic extrusions manufacturing operation in Lenham, Kent. Expected to remain in service until at least 2021, it comprises a mix of 30 rigid trucks – split between 15- and 18-tonners – 49 demountable boxes and 14 drawbar trailers. Two of the trailers are new; the other 12 are being refurbished by Fraikin.
As part of the package, Fraikin is providing a dedicated team of 26 drivers, together with all servicing, maintenance and repairs for the vehicles, road fund licensing, six-weekly safety inspections, annual MOT testing, tyre management and 24/7 roadside assistance.
To ensure that the fleet delivers in terms of the Aliaxis Group’s health and safety code, the new vehicles feature enhancements to improve driver safety and load security. These include front and side platforms which are built into the demount chassis, an integrated step design and the introduction of a driver fall arrest system, along with flexible lateral and transverse load security systems.
Aliaxis fleet manager Tom Hamlyn says: “We believe that by having the latest commercial vehicles within our fleet we can provide greater driver safety, improve fuel economy and contribute to a greener environment, while providing our customers with an outstanding service.
“Our full service contract hire agreement with Fraikin means the first three of those are all taken care of, so we can focus on our customers.”