Gus Commercials’ Contract Hire Customer Profiles: PING Group & AM Nextday

Contract hiring a commercial vehicle is the ideal solution if you don’t want the financial risk and administrative burden of buying, running and servicing van and truck fleets – which is why progressive transport and distribution companies like AM Nextday and the PING Group have opted for contract hire from Gus Commercials. It offers one of the most diverse short-term commercial vehicle hire fleets in the country, from car-derived vans to 18 tonne trucks and everything in between.

PING Group

PING Group, which was established in 2016 as a professional, innovative, neutral ground handling company with its head office at Belfast International Airport, has been taking advantage of the service provided by Gus Commercials since day one.

As an independently owned aircraft and cargo handling company offering a very high standard and portfolio of services, the PING Group also provides what they call ‘multi-model transport solutions’ throughout the UK and Europe, operating a fleet of various vehicle types.

Half of its 30-strong fleet is on contract hire with Gus Commercials, mostly 3.5 tonne long wheelbase Sprinters, with a few 3.5 tonne Luton bodied vehicles and three 7.5 tonners.

They are employed on the company’s door to door parcel and ‘white glove’ services throughout Northern Ireland.

As a ‘start up’ business five years ago, contract hire offered the company a perfect financial solution and there was no hesitation in opting for the service provided by Gus Commercials, with three and four year hire packages.

The company’s core business is offering a cargo reception and handling service for a number of leading long-haul carriers at Belfast International Airport, but it has also diversified into the delivery and distribution sector which meant it had to increase its vehicle fleet.

“Gus Commercials has proved to be a perfect partner for us as far as contract hire is concerned,” says PING Group Managing Director Jonny McKinney. “We can be quite demanding as a customer in terms of expecting readily available vehicles; if they let us down at any point along the way, we need replacements without delay, but happily Gus Commercials have been very reactive, responsive and reliable in that regard.”

Adds Jonny: “Another big benefit is that we don’t have to worry about servicing and maintenance as Gus Commercials take care of all of that; they have an excellent management system in place.”

AM Nextday

Based in the Port of Larne Business Park, AM Nextday is the Pallet Network’s Northern Ireland agent, giving it access to 145 depots throughout GB and a further 30 depots in Ireland. The company is one of the largest movers of palletised freight in Ireland.

“We have six 18 tonne curtainside trucks on contract hire from Gus Commercials because we like the flexibility which that offers,” says company director Alex Maguire.

“If we need a truck for a day, a week, a month, a year or more, Gus Commercials are quick to accommodate us.  The service we get from Gus Commercials cannot be faulted. They will happily go the extra mile for us, especially at exceptionally busy times such as Christmas or when we take on additional contracts for a six month or year long term – and we don’t have to worry about service or maintenance of the trucks as that is all taken care of.”

Adds Alex: “If any issues arise, the problem is literally sorted out instantly, which is why we have also bought new vehicles from them. I wouldn’t be giving them a glowing report if our experience of their service and support was otherwise. We can’t speak highly enough of them.”

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