Activa Contracts has expanded its light commercial vehicle (LCV) business to meet a growing demand from fleet operators.

More than 25% of the company's contract hire fleet being formed by sub-3.5 tonne load carriers.

The new development coincides with a period of record growth in van registrations which were 3.3% up in the first four months of 2016, following a bumper 2015 which saw 371,830 units being registered - a 15.6% year-on-year increase.

The Activa LCV team has been strengthened by the appointment of Jack Ball, an experienced fleet professional who has spent 19 years in the industry; most recently in a specialist LCV role at VMS Fleet Management.

Ball, appointed to the new post of commercial vehicle manager, said: “There is huge corporate demand for LCVs so it makes sense to further enhance Activa Contracts’ proposition to clients and prospects with a specialist dedicated consultancy-based approach.”

Sustained business confidence and the continuing surge in demand for online deliveries have been key to stimulating LCV growth, and Mr Ball said: “It is not simply a case of clients leasing vans, but ensuring that vehicle selection is based on whole life costs, units are fit-for-purpose and all ancillary items are factored into the cost analysis and fitted prior to delivery. Our bespoke solutions are based on a full understanding of the specific operating environment of each vehicle”. 

To ensure all delivered vans are suitably equipped from day one, Activa Contracts has forged partnerships with a range of specialist partners to deliver a total project management solution to fleet customers.

Those partners include:

·     Bott to provide vehicle conversion, racking and livery solutions

·     Ashwoods Lightfoot for in-vehicle driver behaviour technology

·     Warnerbus and Gowrings Mobility which each provide bespoke welfare bus conversion expertise

·     Vehicle bodybuilders Trucksmith

·     Stone Hardy for tail lift services.

Activa Contracts’ LCV team is completed by commercial vehicle executives Faye Taylor, who has 15 years’ rental industry experience most recently with Northgate Vehicle Hire; and Ben Green, who joined the organisation’s operations department 18 months ago after spending several years on dealership aftersales.

Activa Contracts has also achieved Freight Transport Association Van Excellence ‘recognised partner’ accreditation.