South Australia based Deliver It Group runs a medley of dry goods vans and refrigerated vehicles, including a dozen-strong line-up of N Series Isuzu trucks.
“We do dairy, coffee, seafood, fruit and veg, along with flowers for the major supermarkets and retailers,” said Deliver It Founder and Managing Director, Matt Draper.
“Half of our business is hospitality based – restaurants, cafes and the like – and the other half is supermarket based.”
According to Draper, business is absolutely booming, with the company having grown by a staggering 40 per cent in the past 12 months.
“When COVID hit, we saw a huge drop in one side of the business, while our supermarket trade blew out through the roof,” he said.
The success of Deliver It, however, isn’t solely pinned on the pandemic fallout.
The company recently won an award for fastest employment growth in Brand South Australia’s ‘Fast Movers of 2019’, while Draper has earned a spot in South Australia’s Top 40 Under 40, recognising young SA entrepreneurs under 40 years of age.
Draper explained that Deliver It’s business model is a bit different from other large transport companies and is centred around good old-fashioned customer service.
“We dedicate each of our trucks to a supplier every day. That truck will only see that customer’s products, which means we can deliver the best planning, best service and best tracking for them,” he said.
“Ninety per cent of our drivers will be taking care of the same customers, with the same truck, really taking ownership of what they do.”
As for the Isuzus, so far Draper has purchased a mix of NLR 45-150s, NPR 55-155s and an NQR 87-190, with plans to gradually convert the rest of the fleet over to what he deems his favourite truck brand.
“We’re running 20 refrigerated trucks, and 12 of those are Isuzus,” he said – adding that the NLRs are used mostly in the city runabout routes while the bigger NPRs and the NQR are engaged in the weightier roles including dairy and out-of-town runs,” said Draper.
“They’re handling dirt roads on Kangaroo Island, major highways and metro driving on a daily basis while loaded – each of our trucks does between 50,000 to 60,000 kilometres a year,” he said.
Draper attests that several of his Isuzu trucks have done close to 700,000 trouble-free kilometres with just regular maintenance performed on them.
“When it’s time for our older trucks to be swapped over, we certainly won’t be looking anywhere else but Isuzu,” he said.