Steve Wilson, Shawston’s group operations manager, says Asset’s contract hire rates made it “the ideal choice”.
He adds: “The full-service package works well for our business, particularly because of the flexibility it brings to our fleet, compared to purchasing vehicles outright. The fixed-price monthly payments also make it easier to manage a vehicle’s lifetime costs and effectively provide us with a warranty on the vehicles for the full five-year term.”
Asset Alliance retains ownership of the vehicles and will shoulder the associated costs, including tyre replacement, breakdown cover, safety inspections, servicing, and repair and maintenance requirements.
At the end of the term, Shawston will return the vehicles.
The steel supplier expects the new trucks to cover up to 28,000 miles each year, working five-and-a-half days per week.
The new arrivals join an 11-strong fleet, ranging from vans to 26-tonne rigids.
Shawston specified the trucks’ dropside bodywork from Bevan Group for the contract to facilitate easier loading of its range of steel fittings, pipe supports, tubes and valves, which are used in mechanical engineering and fire protection products.
Both trucks are also fitted with a fall protection system as part of Shawston’s FORS-accredited fleet.