Elliotts switches to 100% Iveco fleet

Family-owned builders merchants’ group Elliotts has switched its entire fleet to Iveco vehicles, with a new order of Daily vans.

The business, which is based throughout Hampshire and Dorset, has been running Iveco trucks in its customer delivery fleet for 15 years. It is now switching its smaller vehicles over to the brand too.

Elliotts began replacing an ageing fleet of 18-tonne trucks with new 26t Iveco Stralis models back in 2006 and took delivery of six new 3.5t Dailys in February, each fitted with a VFS drop-side body.

The Elliotts fleet hit 43 vehicles in total, all Iveco. With this switch having been well received among management and the drivers, the company has since ordered a further three.

The decision to replace its old vans with Iveco Dailys came after the business ordered a 7.2-tonne Daily with a tail-lift equipped luton body for its Lymington-based kitchen, bathroom and bedroom business last year.

Elliotts’ operations support manager, Gary Tippen, consulted with the firm’s drivers to identify the optimal vehicle specification and says he received nothing but great feedback about the Daily.

“We’re keen to support the drivers with the right tools for their job and so far with Daily the drivers absolutely love them,” he said. “If we look after the driver and they’re comfortable in a lovely cab with a nice gearbox, air conditioning and built-in navigation, they’re going to look after the vehicle far better, and that’s true across the range”.

The Iveco Daily models feature full-LED headlights, air conditioning and cruise control. There is also a seven-inch touchscreen HI-CONNECT infotainment system with DAB and Bluetooth as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

VFS Southampton installed extra grab handles, steps and load tie-down hooks, while the tailboard features graphics to increase other road-users’ awareness of potential blind-spots.

“The Elliotts fleet is a great example of the Iveco brand, covering all bases with a strong focus on TCO and productivity”, added Hendy Truck & Van sales manager Nick Prideaux. “The heavy truck ethos they know from running our trucks for years has shown how we can support with that same service level all the way down to the unmatched diversity of the Daily range. With over 340 years between us, it’s great for one local family-owned business to be able to support another in such a positive way.”

Currently, the company runs its vehicles on a 10-year change cycle and expects the Daily fleet to cover 30,000 miles annually. Most of the fleet is covered by the Iveco On 3XL R&M Package with every vehicle connected to the Iveco Control Room. Running data is constantly monitored to provide early warning of maintenance requirements to aid in forward planning to increase uptime and lower the Total Cost of Ownership.