Fitness First renews fleet with Citroen

As part of a fleet replacement and expansion programme, Fitness First has taken delivery of six new Citroën LCVs.

The Poole-headquartered company's current LCV order consists of one Dispatch dual fuel (petrol/lpg) van, one Berlingo dual fuel van and four Berlingo 1.6HDi 90hp X vans.

These vehicles will be followed by further Berlingo and Dispatch orders as Fitness First replaces its existing 30-strong Citroën LCV fleet and increases its fleet size by 20% to 36 vans.

In renewing and expanding its fleet with Citroën LCVs, Fitness First required its long-standing contract hire company, Fleethire, to examine a wide range of vans to identify optimum fitness for purpose - focusing on low emissions, lowest whole life costs, maximum driver comfort and high levels of safety.

Citroën met these requirements with fuel-efficient, low-emission diesel-powered Berlingo vans and London congestion charge-exempt Dispatch and Berlingo dual fuel vans.

Glyn Allen, Fitness First's head of contracts, said: "As a Carbon Trust Standard award-winning company, Fitness First is actively engaged in reducing both its energy consumption and its carbon emissions. In specifying our new van fleet, we have continued our strategic relationship with long-term suppliers Citroën and Fleethire to ensure we have a van fleet that provides optimal environmental, operational and financial performance."

The new vans will be used by Fitness First's maintenance technicians based throughout the UK.

The vans have been custom-racked and equipped by Fleethire to carry the necessary tools and equipment required to maintain swimming pools, buildings, running machines and other gym equipment.

With 59 of these fitness clubs in Greater London, the company's latest LCV order includes Dispatch and Berlingo dual fuel vans, which are congestion charge-exempt.

Supplied by Citroën dealer WR Davis in Stafford, Fitness First's new Citroën LCVs are being acquired and operated on 48-month/80,000mile Fleethire with-maintenance contract hire agreements.