Fraikin to invest £35m in short-term rental fleet

Fraikin will invest £35 million in 400 new vehicles to support its national short-term rental fleet.

The new vehicles will be compliant with the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and equipped with Fraikin’s digital MySmartFleet connected technologies package.

The investment means that 80% of the company’s total rental fleet will be less than a year old.

The new vans, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), have been sourced from a range of major manufacturers and will feature a wide selection of body types.

They will include refrigerated, dropside, curtainside and box bodies, as well as specialist equipment such as Moffett carriers.

Fraikin has also committed to supporting customers looking to quickly and easily reduce their carbon footprint, adding a number of fully electric 3.5-tonne vans to the fleet.

Peter Backhouse, chief executive officer at Fraikin in the UK, said: “This significant investment clearly demonstrates the strength of Fraikin, our long-term commitment to the industry and our dedication to providing the very best mobility solutions for customers, providing access to the latest vehicles and the most diverse range of rental options available in the market today.

“Adding extra EVs to the fleet means we’re in a position to help businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact, alongside supporting those who may want to test the EV market before making longer term fleet decisions.

“This commitment to sustainability allows us to meet the needs of today but also contribute to a greener future across the industry.”

Every rental vehicle from Fraikin comes fully equipped with the company’s advanced connected technologies and telematics suite, MySmartFleet.

Customers can utilise features including vehicle tracking, route optimisation, digital vehicle checks, tachograph downloads, driver behaviour reporting and EV suitability assessments to help improve operational efficiency and reduce operating costs, as well as enhance fleet sustainability.

All rental vehicles also benefit from 24/7 customer service support; a fully managed preventative maintenance and repair service via Fraikin’s UK-wide network; roadside response; replacement vehicle cover; tyre management; online access to vehicle records; as well as a professional inspection and valet on every vehicle delivery.

Jackie Headon, Fraikin’s head of rental, said: “Our goal is always to meet the wide-ranging needs of our clients, and this investment allows us to do just that.

“Through this investment we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering flexibility and scalability to customers, helping them remain compliant with new legislation and to meet the evolving needs of their businesses.”

Fraikin offers short- and medium-term rental packages, alongside a longer-term Fraikin Xtend solution.

All the new vehicles are accessible via the company’s Northern, Midlands and Southern Rental Hubs, located in Bellshill, Coventry and Enfield respectively.