Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services has invested in 33 new vehicles to support customer growth within its UK Specialist Services operation.
The new vehicles are a combination of 26 Renault Midlum 270 and seven DAF LF55 chassis with 20 featuring a new aerodynamic Bevan21 box body design. This meets Norbert Dentressangle's aims of reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring a cost effective delivery solution is maintained.
The company's Specialist Services division provides shared-user network delivery solutions for high-value, sensitive, or bulky products, such as IT and telecoms systems, commercial catering and refrigeration equipment, and office equipment.
In addition to standard next day delivery and collection services throughout the UK, the operation also offers tailored two man deliveries, pre-delivery customer calls, point of use installation as well as the removal and disposal of packaging.
Dave Finnie, General Manager - Specialist Services at Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services, said: "This is a major investment in our operation as it replaces and upgrades half the Specialist Services fleet to ensure we maintain our high-levels of customer service and reduce any impact on the environment.
"We carried out a thorough review of our operational requirements and the vehicles have been specified with specialist equipment that allows us to handle a wide range of unusual or large products securely."
The vehicle specification includes air ride suspension to ensure a smooth ride, box sides for load protection and Dhollandia cantilever tail-lifts with fixed hinged side safety gates, an important safety feature. Bevan Group carried out the vehicle builds, including fitting the tail-lifts and livery application.
Robert Oliphant, Engineering Director at Norbert Dentressangle, said: "We selected Bevan as it has the capability of building environmentally friendly box bodies our own specification, with a 2.4m internal roof height at the front of the body and a 2.6m height at the rear to accommodate specialist storage cabinets.
"The new vehicles will provide operational efficiency and through the Renault and DAF dealer networks we have an excellent back-up service."
Norbert Dentressangle has also invested in a further 29 trucks, the majority of which are 18-tonners with curtainside bodies, to be used for general work across its UK network.