Long-standing customer Lansley’s Landscape Centre has taken delivery of its first 13.5-tonne Isuzu truck – building on a trusted relationship which has seen the company buying 7.5-tonne models from the Japanese manufacturer for 16 years – the first of which is still in operation.

The new Isuzu F135.240(E) is mounted with a custom-built dropside body from B.L. Searle and comes complete with a heavy-duty Fassi F95 crane. An addition to the fleet, it will allow for bulkier materials and heavier loads to be transported to support the company’s growing customer base and widening delivery radius.

Matt Lansley, Managing Director for Lansley’s Landscape Centre, says: “We needed a bigger truck to support the continued growth of the business – and because our existing Isuzu fleet never lets us down, the F135 was the obvious choice.

“Despite the step up in size, the chassis is still remarkably light and robust, allowing us to specify a body and crane combination that can handle payloads of up to 6.7 tonnes in a single delivery.”

Commenting on the relationship with Isuzu Truck UK, he adds: “Over the years we’ve gone through a collaborative process with both the local dealer and the bodybuilder to ensure the trucks we buy meet our exact needs. Making the transition to a larger vehicle was made much easier because we are working with businesses we trust.”

The new truck has been supplied with a comprehensive three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which includes roadside assistance, and access to Isuzu Truck’s Customer CARE Programme and dealer network. All servicing will be provided by Arlesey Car and Commercials, situated just 15 miles away from Lansley’s Landscape Centre.

Lansley continues: “As a company we put our trucks through their paces and work them hard, but they hold up every time. For that reason, we are only just considering retiring our very first Isuzu, but mainly because the crane has given up, not the chassis! We try to customise the vehicles as much as we can, so it is important they last the course. Having the reliability we get from Isuzu is crucial for a small business like ours.”

On the road five days per week, the new 13.5-tonne truck is expected to stay in service for at least 15 years.

Lansley’s Landscape Centre supplies heavy landscaping materials, including water features, paving, rockery, aggregates, and accessories from its location in Sandy, Bedfordshire.