Also some truck fleet operators are less familiar with Peugeot vehicles than established truck brands and need to be convinced that they are up to the job.

Jones says: “Peugeot spotted the need for lightweight vans early on and has some of the lightest chassis to build from.

"They understand the value of fuel economy and of low loading heights that do away with the need for tail lifts and have the most suitable chassis for Roadload’s goods vehicles.”

Another potential problem of buying such large 3.5-tonners is that fleets may be tempted to overload them, prosecution from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), which has recently said it would be targeting vans in a bid to stamp out such practices.

But Jones is well aware of the dangers and any potential buyers are quizzed carefully about intended usage before vehicles are handed over.

Flagging up potential problems

He says: “We start by asking what kind of loads are going to be carried and we have a software programme that we use to flag up any potential problems.

"If a buyer wants 3.5-tonners and we believe they are the wrong vehicles for the job, we will gently steer him to the bigger vehicles.”

As an added safeguard, Superdeck vehicles can be specified with Dunlop Loadsafe systems which alert the driver to overloading.

Roadload has also had to grapple with the latest European Whole Vehicle Type Approval rules and is still in the midst of gaining a VCA certificate for its vehicles.

Jones says: “We have a member of staff working virtually full-time on this and we are expecting to gain our overall certificate within about six weeks.

"In the meantime, as we aren’t allowed to sell vans without a certificate after April 29, we are having to seek independent voluntary approval for each vehicle we sell, much in the way that someone making a kit car would do. It’s been a real headache.”

Once Type Approval has been gained, Jones is hoping that Superdeck vehicles will be sold at Peugeot dealerships along with other approved conversions.

He says: “We can’t believe how this vehicle has taken off. It’s still very early days yet and our sales team are spreading the word, but we believe that before long our Superdeck vans will take over from traditional 7.5-tonners.”