First 13.5 tonne Isuzu for HBS Fuels
Hampshire-based independent fuel supplier, HBS Fuels, has taken delivery if its first ever Isuzu truck, a 13.5-tonne Isuzu F135.240 (E), from local dealer Ferndown Commercials. Its arrival on the fleet will help the family-run business increase load capacity, helping to improve delivery efficiency and sustainability across its operation.
Fitted with a bespoke Horton Commercials-built dropside body, with high sides and tail lift to support gas bottle delivery, the new truck replaces one of the company's six 7.5-tonne rigids from another manufacturer. Offering nearly double the payload capacity, its arrival means HBS Fuels can transport up to 80 bottles in a single load, which will provide significant operational benefits, particularly during the winter when more bulk deliveries are required.
Steve Walker, Operations Manager at HBS Fuels, says: "Previously we would find ourselves sending multiple trucks to a single site un order to complete a day's deliveries, especially during the colder months. With the 13.5-tonner we are hoping to achieve the same amount of work with just one vehicle, which is a much better use of our drivers' time and the fleet as a whole."
The specification was decided following close collaboration with the team at Ferndown Commercials, with Field sales Specialist Dale Johnson advising on the optimum gross vehicle weight and wheelbase length to meet the company's load requirements.
"We looked at both the 11- and 13.3-tonne options from Isuzu, but after discussing our needs and going over the specs, it was clear the larger truck ticked all the relevant boxes. The work they put in to genuinely understand our operation gave us real confidence in our decision, and it has proven to be the right course," adds Walker.
"As a family business, service and reliability are also extremely important to us, so it's great to see that the aftersales support we've received has been excellent from day one. They have gone above and beyond what i would normally expect , which is really encouraging as we begin this new relationship."
On the road five days per week, the new vehicle is expected to clock up to 20,000 miles annually and remain in the fleet for at least seven years. As with all new Isuzu chassis, the 13.5-tonne truck is covered by the manufacturer's three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance, alongside access to its Customer CARE team and comprehensive dealer network.
Founded in 1990, HBS Fuels provides bit bulk LPG and individual gas bottle supply for domestic, commercial and agricultural customer across Hampshire from its base in Stockbridge, alongside supplying other distributors in Oxford, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Surrey.
