By upgrading from its previous Isuzu 7.5 tonne fuel oil tanker to a brand-new Isuzu 11 tonne tanker, Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd are benefiting from much greater additional payload using a truck that can still access the many tight and restricted customer locations throughout Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Despite increasing the gross vehicle weight, Kinch’s believe that the extra payload advantage and compact footprint of the Isuzu will give their fuel distribution operation significant advantages, in terms of both operating efficiencies and being able to access locations that other similar GVW tankers would struggle with.
The latest Isuzu F110.240 rigid truck to join the 12 strong tanker fleet at Kinch Fuel Oils is fitted with a 7000-litre tanker body, commissioned, and built by Road Tankers Northern in Barnsley. With a three-compartment tanker body for even weight distribution, this Isuzu tanker will be carrying mainly kerosene and a range of domestic burning oils to customers local to the company’s Malmesbury base in Wiltshire.
“With the increase in fuel oil tank capacity available on the higher GVW Isuzu 11 tonner, we will now be able to cover up to 12 customer drops per day using this vehicle. Our previous Isuzu certainly gave us good service over many years but by moving up the weight range, this has allowed us to become more operationally efficient,” said Roy Kinch, director, Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd.
Roy continues, “We have found there is also an added advantage as the drivers of this new Isuzu have already confirmed how easy it is to drive in both urban environments and country lanes, as well as it being really manoeuvrable on site, allowing them to access properties with quite limited access. So far, we’ve had no shocks and surprises of this vehicle being stuck anywhere or unable to offload fuel oil, which is excellent.”
Supplied by Bristol based Isuzu Truck dealer AK Commercials and supported by a seven-year R&M agreement, the Isuzu F110.240 tanker will be operational in the Kinch’s fleet for at least seven years, covering approximately 30,000 km per annum, on fuel oil distribution to customers in the Wiltshire and Gloucester areas
“Throughout the whole new vehicle acquisition process, AK Commercials were excellent in terms of the service and support given to us. With Isuzu recently opening a new dealership in Swindon, Sparks Commercial Services Ltd, we will now be using them for ongoing service work as they are literally just up the road from us,” added Roy Kinch.
Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd is an independent family run business that has been delivering top quality heating oil, road and agricultural fuels and lubricants throughout Wiltshire and the surrounding area for over 50 years.
“Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of Isuzu chassis being used for fuel oil distribution, especially those companies involved in delivering to domestic properties. With so many rural residences being located in areas with challenging road networks and narrow vehicle access, Isuzu trucks are the perfect vehicle for this type of distribution. It’s good to see a long-established company such as Kinch Fuel Oils continuing to benefit from having Isuzu in its fleet,” said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.
