Isuzu Recovery Vehicles

Company Profile – January 2007 Formed in 1995 Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd is the UK distributor of Isuzu Motors Japan Ltd, the world's largest truck manufacturer of light to medium weight trucks. Including the UK, Isuzu Motors distribute to over 140 countries around the world. Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd has its head office based in Thundridge, near Ware in Hertfordshire and currently directly employs 43 people. During May of 2007 they will be moving to a new, purpose-built marketing and sales headquarters incorporating a highly specified technical centre for technician training purposes. Since Isuzu's launch into the UK it has grown from strength to strength with a nationwide agent (dealer) network of 65. Their model range consists of rigid chassis of 3.5t (including the ‘Grafter’ range), 5.0t, 6.2t and 7.5 tonnes gvw plus two types of specialist mini-artic urban distribution vehicles with up to 11.00 tonnes gcw. This product range is set to dramatically expand over the next 12-18 months with the introduction of heavier trucks with gross vehicle weights of 10, 12, 15 and 18 tonnes. Customer Care is at the very foundation of Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd and by being the only UK truck manufacturer to deal directly with customers they have the advantage of being able to respond to their needs immediately. It also gives customers peace of mind and reassurance that they are dealing directly with a straight talking, no-nonsense, truck manufacturer. Feedback from the Isuzu customer clinics initiated the introduction of free driver training for all customers and market-leading warranty packages available on all vehicles, 2 or 3 years unlimited or 4 years restricted to 120000 miles (on the 3.5 tonne range only). The Isuzu fleet customer base includes such names as Coca-Cola, SGB, Menzies Distribution, JJ Foods, A-Plant, Deborah Services, Serviceteam, Travis Perkins, Palmer and Harvey, Exel Logistics and Scarab to name just a few. All UK destined Isuzu trucks are manufactured in Japan and assembled by automotive specialists Vendas Novas based just outside of Lisbon, Portugal. Isuzu Truck operates a 24-hour breakdown and emergency customer service centre through the RAC and with access to over 2000 RAC patrols this provides customers with 24/7 comprehensive, nationwide roadside assistance and back-up. With such comprehensive cover it should come as no surprise to learn that Isuzu was at the topof the league table following the last Motor Transport survey carried out in 2001 where the average call-to-roll time for Isuzu related faults was a mere 56 minutes. Full and flexible finance packages can be offered through Isuzu Truck Finance, contract hire and repair & maintenance contracts can be arranged too. By listening to the customer at regular customer clinics, employing people that care about the business, appointing agents that care about the customer, Isuzu Truck have established themselves as leaders in customer care and can genuinely boast they are the UK’s first, truly customer facing, truck manufacturer. In 2000 they won the Daily Telegraph/Energis Customer Care Awards and are recognised as a benchmark company by the DTI for excellence in customer care. As a result they often host visits by other UK companies looking to share ‘best practice’ customer relations management ideas at their headquarters in Hertfordshire. This industry unique customer CARE programme was the brainchild of managing director Nikki King OBE. Nikki is a past chairman but still an active member of the Commercial Vehicle Show committee. She is currently Vice President of the Society of Operations Engineers, chairman of the Professional Sector Council of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and was awarded the O.B.E for services to the road transport industry in 2002.

One of the most popular chassis used as the prime mover for recovery vehicles are the Isuzu NQR and NPR range of heavy duty chassis cabs.