The order – comprising Fiat, Ford, Vauxhall and Iveco vehicles – represents the biggest bulk vehicle order that BT has placed for several years. Most will be used by Openreach engineers to maintain the UK's local access network.
All vehicles were specified by BT to include racking, markings to comply with Chapter 8 Traffic Safety Measures and Signs, beacons and livery. In addition, 145 specialist cabling vans are awaiting sign-off from the DVSA and will be used to install new fire broadband in BT's £3 million expansion programme.
BT Fleet set up 12 hubs across the UK to inspect the new vehicles and hand them over to drivers. The hubs also decommissioned the old vehicles to prepare them for sale at auction. Vehicle downtime was kept to a minimum despite 300 deliveries being completed per week.
"The success of this project is thanks to effective teamwork across our supply chain. The delivery methods we used have created a new way to mobilise at pace, effectively and efficiently," says Duncan Webb, commercial director for BT Fleet.
BT Fleet is now focused on its 2015/16 plans, starting with the commissioning of 330 Vauxhall Corsas.