Elliotts strengthens its deliveries with new specialist crane lorry
Elliotts, the South’s leading independent supplier of building materials, has enhanced its delivery capability in Fordingbridge with the introduction of a new 13.5-tonne Isuzu rear-mount crane lorry, designed specifically to serve customers across the area’s rural roads and restricted access sites.
Now fully operational following handover earlier this month, the vehicle is being trialled under a six-month contract hire agreement, with the option to purchase subject to performance review.
The new lorry has been selected to address the practical challenges faced by builders and homeowners across the New Forest and surrounding communities, where narrow lanes, tight driveways and constrained development sites are common.
The specialist vehicle enables improved access to difficult locations and allows materials to be offloaded precisely where they are needed, helping reduce disruption on site and improve delivery efficiency.
The investment reflects Elliotts’ ongoing commitment to supporting local tradespeople and customers with reliable, practical solutions.
As part of the trial, the business will monitor operational performance and customer feedback to assess the long-term benefits of introducing similar vehicles at other branches serving rural areas.
The arrival also marks a visual change for the company’s fleet, with the lorry featuring a refreshed vehicle wrap – a first for Elliotts – signalling the company’s continued evolution alongside its 180-year heritage as a family-run builders’ merchant serving communities across the South Coast.
Branch Manager at Elliotts Fordingbridge, Tiffany Phillips, said: “The capability of this new vehicle is already proving a winner, with one recent customer highlighting its importance and praising the team for successfully completing a delivery to their narrow driveway in Romsey. This was only made possible by being able to use the new lorry.”