The recent addition of a 3.5-tonne (3.85-U.S.-ton) Isuzu Grafter to The Feed Warehouse has helped the retail provider of pets, equine, farm, and garden products to realize several productivity improvements, including speeding up loading times by at least 50%. Serving North East England from two store-warehouse locations in Consett and Browney, County Durham, The Feed Warehouse’s new Isuzu joins a six-vehicle fleet but is both the firm’s first-ever Isuzu and first-ever curtainside truck.
The Feed Warehouse Director Sean Kell says his firm’s new Grafter lets it provide better customer service, thanks to its greater payload potential for horse bedding and other bulky items Feed Warehouse delivers. “We can carry more products on the Isuzu, and we have now been able to speed up the loading time by at least 50%, allowing us to make even more return trips per day,” he says. “Also, the clear open access to the truck body significantly means less body damage to the truck when loading by forklift in comparison to its panel van predecessor.”
“Creating The Right Impression”
The Feed Warehouse opted for a 4 x 2 rigid N35.125 6d Temp chassis with twin rear wheels and a maximum weight of 2,500 kilograms (5,500 pounds). The truck uses a six-speed Aisin fully automatic transmission, and its RZ4E Isuzu turbo intercooled DOHC four-cylinder diesel engine generates 118 horsepower (88 kilowatts) of maximum power at 3,200 rpm. The Feed Warehouse plans to operate the new truck bearing its black livery for at least five years, and says the truck’s delivery calls typically occur within a 24-kilometre (15-mile) radius of its warehouses, resulting in numerous daily short-return journeys.
“Not only does the truck look really smart when pulling up at a customer premises, creating the right impression, but an important part of the vehicle specification was the inclusion of a new fully automatic gearbox,” Kell says. “This makes the Grafter really easy to drive; it’s so smooth and the drivers absolutely enjoy the super-smooth driving experience.”
Find Your Isuzu Truck
The Feed Warehouse started in the mid-1960s with just 12 hens that produced eggs for local residents. In 2009, the company expanded its range of stock, and in 2013, it added the warehouse in Consett that now serves as its head office and distribution centre.
You’ll find a large selection of new and used Isuzu trucks for sale every day on Truck Locator, including a number of Grafters.
Source: Isuzu