Grafters join The Hireman

30 November 2020

A by-product of the lockdowns and other restrictions to reduce spreading the coronavirus has been a reduction in commuter travel.

With many people continuing to work from home, normally busy high streets are experiencing very low footfall, even in the retail centres of London and other cities.

So I wondered whether this might have led to a corresponding reduction in traffic volume, making delivery drivers’ lives easier. However, this is not the case according to Neil Graham, managing director of The Hireman, which has depots in Canning Town, Wembley and Croydon.

“There are many more couriers and delivery vehicles on the roads because people are shopping online and supermarkets are making home deliveries. Also, many of those who are commuting are avoiding the Tube and trains networks and using their cars,” he says.

The Hireman recently added six new 3.5-tonne Isuzu Grafter dropside rigid trucks to its delivery fleet and it sounds as though they will face roads that are as congested as always.

However, Neil says that as the Grafters’ engines comply with Euro VI regulations they are ideal for meeting the restrictions of London’s low-emission regime. They also do not require Ad Blue.

“The vehicles have a payload capacity of more than 1 tonne and the compact cab means we can have a longer loading space for the tools and equipment that we carry,” adds Neil, who was the subject of a fascinating Q & A on the blog recently,

The trucks have rear tail lifts fitted as standard and have been specified with air-conditioning and automatic transmission, to make those congested roads a little more bearable.