13.5 tonne Isuzu for Austen Knapman
Devon-based steel merchant Austen Knapman has taken delivery of its first two 13.5 tonne Isuzu F135.240 rigids fitted with dropside bodies to support customer deliveries, from local dealer Harry Moore Commercials.
The new trucks replace two 7.5-tonne Isuzu trucks and provide a substantial increase in payload capacity while retaining the compact footprint required to access both customer sites in rural locations, and fit down the narrow roads common throughout the South West.
Steve Gigg, Warehouse and Transport Manager at Austen Knapman, says: “Steel is a heavy product, so payload capacity is critical to our operation. We were increasingly finding that our previous 7.5-tonners couldn’t always carry the loads we needed, meaning additional vehicle movements were required to complete the job. As the business has grown, moving up to a 13.5-tonner was the logical next step, giving us the carrying capacity we need whilst improving efficiency.
“What really appealed to us is that the 13.5-tonne Isuzu trucks aren’t physically much bigger than the trucks that they replace. This compact footprint means our drivers can still get into the places they need to be while benefiting from the added payload capacity that gives us greater flexibility across our operation.”
Built around customer support
Running from the company’s Paignton and Saltash depots, the vehicles are on the road five days per week. Built with 7.8m-long dropside bodies, they are regularly tasked with transporting long steel sections and beams for a wide range of industrial and construction jobs.
The new vehicles are expected to remain in service for at least eight years and join a mixed fleet of nine HGVs, including three lighter Isuzu vehicles, some of which have been in the fleet for more than a decade.
Like all new chassis supplied by Isuzu Truck UK, the new trucks are backed by the manufacturer’s three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance and personalised support from its dedicated Customer CARE Team, helping provide peace of mind for busy operators.
Gigg adds: “The service we receive from Harry Moore Commercials is excellent. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and the team is always so helpful regardless of which department we’re working with. That level of support gave us real confidence in choosing the new vehicles.”
A third-generation family business, founded more than 45 years ago, Austen Knapman supplies a full range of steel products to customers across the South West from its depots in Paignton and Saltash, serving a broad range of construction, engineering, manufacturing and agricultural businesses.
