Enterprise expands traffic management fleet with £55m investment

Enterprise Flex-E-Rent is investing £55 million in 200 new HGV and LCV traffic management vehicles in the UK.

The newly extended fleet will support growing demand from the road infrastructure sector for commercial vehicle hire.

Enterprise says that the new vehicles will be available for both daily and long-term flexible rental from any of the company’s 28 specialist depots around the UK.

Nicky Simpson, commercial director at Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, said: “The Government has committed to a £27 billion roads investment as part of a national boost to help the economy bounce back from the pandemic.

“Whether you’re a public sector organisation, local authority or highways and infrastructure contractor, the ability to source dedicated, fully-equipped vehicles to support a growing number of maintenance and development remits, often at the last minute, is essential.

“Highly specialised vehicles are vital components of traffic management, whether it’s a replacement for a short time frame to cover service or repair, or a flexible long-term rental over several months or even years for a specific project.”

The £55m investment includes 40 18-tonne traffic management trucks equipped with Scorpion crash cushions and eight dedicated block vehicles, used for road maintenance, verge management and lane closures on both local and high-speed road networks.

A further 40 lightweight 7.2-tonne plastic-bodied trucks, made in recyclable copolymer plastic, will help operators maximise vehicle payload. Enterprise says this enables them to carry enough signs in one vehicle for a 2km lane closure.

Enterprise is also expanding its highway LCV fleet with 35 new mobile lane closure vehicles (MLCs) with hydraulic sign boards and a further 80 3.5-tonne dropside vans with tail lifts and low-bodied flat beds.

All 200 specialist vehicles are equipped with the latest safety features, such as improved access and egress points and improved lighting.

The 18-tonne trucks also feature Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)-compliant and Direct Vision Standard (DVS)-compliant multi-camera digital video recorder and camera systems, with live feed if required.