Supplied by IVECO Retail in Heathrow, the new addition is said to have the highest gvw of any light commercial vehicle on the market, with a capacity greater than many 7.5-tonners.
It is the first vehicle to join the SFS Flooring fleet since gaining its O licence, and replaces older 3.5-tonne vans. Powered by a 3.0-litre Euro VI D diesel engine delivering 178bhp and 430Nm of torque, the vehicle has a 5m-long curtainside body by Solent Bodybuilders and a tuckaway tail-lift from Del.
“We can easily fit our heaviest carpets on board and still have room to spare – something that wasn’t possible with our smaller vans,” says Marius Ursata, logistics manager at the Berkshire-based operator.
“Before, we would do less than 10 deliveries a day but we anticipate with the Daily Hi-Matic we’ll be able to do 15, so it’s going to make such a difference.”
Ursata also praises the Hi-Matic gearbox: “It makes the driving experience very comfortable, which is important as our drivers can spend a lot of time in busy London traffic.”
The vehicle is expected to be in service for five years, covering up to 40,000 miles a year.
Routine maintenance work will be conducted by the dealer as part of a five-year R&M contract.