Floor cleaning machine supplier Dowding & Plummer has added a Bevan-bodied truck to its fleet after adding a box body to a 7.5-tonne DAF chassis.
Dowding & Plummer transport manager Roy Murgatroyd says it is bigger, lighter and built to a higher standard than previous versions.
The body was manufactured from lightweight Eco Font panels at Bevan's production facility in Halesowen, West Midlands, where the a 1,500kg Dhollandia cantilever tail-lift was also fitted, along with a wind-cheating aerodynamic kit from Hatcher Components.
Murgatroyd compares it to Dowding & Plummer's two other commercial vehicles: a 14-tonne DAF 55 which went on the road last year; and a 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with tail-lift.
"At six metres, it's a metre longer than the body on our previous 7.5-tonner, so gives us increased capacity in terms of volume. Yet it's lighter too, which means we also get a higher payload," he says.
"After you've factored in the driver, a tank of fuel, the big tail-lift, the Hatcher air kit and other ancillaries it will still carry a very respectable 2,400kg."
So far, Murgatroyd has been impressed with the service offered by the supplier. "I was aware of Bevan by reputation and knew they offered a premium product, but assumed it would come with a price to match. In the event, they were no more expensive than our previous supplier," he says.
"We've had one minor issue since taking delivery of our new truck but Bevan sent a member of their aftercare team over and it was very quickly resolved," he adds.
The vehicle is subject to a contract hire agreement with Fraikin.
