One of the country’s largest commercial vehicle rental companies, Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, is investing £55 million in 200 new HGV and LCV traffic management vehicles in the UK.
It says the newly extended fleet will support ever-growing demand from the road infrastructure sector for commercial vehicle hire. It is available for both daily and long-term flexible rental from any of the company’s 28 specialist depots around the UK.
The 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 highly durable and fully recyclable copolymer plastic, will help operators maximise vehicle payload. This enables them to carry enough signs in one vehicle for a 2km lane closure and makes them ideal for works on both urban and high-speed roads.
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. These cameras are designed to reduce the risk of accidents when cyclists approach the vehicle at what was formerly the driver’s blind spot.
Nicky Simpson, Commercial Director of Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, said: “The government has committed to a £27bn roads investment as part of a national boost to help the economy bounce back from the pandemic.
“Rental offers quick access to new, modern and efficient vehicles on flexible terms, helping to keep the country’s infrastructure maintained and ensuring workers are safe. 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.”
To ensure hygiene and safety, Enterprise introduced the Complete Clean Pledge in 2020 to further enhance how all its vehicles, including trucks and vans, are thoroughly cleaned between each rental.
This includes washing, vacuuming, general wipe down, and sanitising with a disinfectant that meets leading health authority requirements, with particular attention to more than 20 high-touch points.
(Picture – Enterprise Flex-E-Rent)
