The order includes six 3.5 tonne Toyota pick-up trucks, eight 7.5 tonne Isuzu rigids and 19 DAF LF 55 tonne rigids, each supplied on a comprehensive five year full service contract hire agreement. The rigids are fitted with flatbed bodies with safety railings and two pairs of steps on each side, to enable safe and easy access for the driver and to guard against falls from the lorry bed.
Mandy Gill, Transport Manager at CPL Distribution, says: "We've contract hired part of our fleet in the past, but until now we've only had a handful of vehicles from Fraikin. We shopped around trialling different suppliers and liked the service we experienced from Fraikin, which led to them winning this latest order.
"Contract hire works well for our business as it ensures fixed running costs and a single point of contact, which is especially important as our fleet is widely spread across 32 different depots nationwide," she adds.
The fleet will be used primarily to deliver a range of solid fuels to private households, commercial customers and garage forecourts. CPL Distribution's products are available via its websites which offer a comprehensive array of different coals and smokeless fuels that are manufactured by CPL at their briquetting works in Immingham, as well as logs, kindling and firelighters. This is supplemented during the summer months with a range of BBQ charcoal and garden products. The mixed fleet ensures CPL Distribution can make both small and bulk deliveries economically, with the fleet of pick-ups ideal for accessing narrow rural lanes and making deliveries to houses with restricted access.
Each of the new vehicles supplied by Fraikin is covered for full servicing, maintenance, repair and MOTs, carried out by a combination of Fraikin's own branch network and approved third-party repairers. The contract hire agreement also includes road fund licensing, tyres and 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
At the end of the five year contract, CPL Distribution can return the vehicles to Fraikin, without the uncertainties associated with residual values and used vehicle disposal.