Driving ahead with an expanded fleet

11:34am Monday 30th June 2008

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By Gareth Lewis »

A New Forest van hire boss is defying talk of recession by launching a major expansion of his company.

David Bundy, founder and managing director of Callvan Hire in Ringwood, has also rebranded the long-established firm.

The company currently has a fleet of 70 highly specialised vehicles but now David has ordered 30 more because he is optimistic about the future.

"The van hire market has been a major growth sector in the past few years as more people decide to do things themselves, like moving home," he explained.

"There's a lot of doom and gloom around, especially in anything to do with the transportation industry, but I am looking on the positive side."

David, 47, believes rising fuel prices and other costs may encourage more companies to use contract hire rather than maintain expensive vehicle fleets of their own.

A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses in Dorset and Hampshire said 80 per cent of firms believe rising fuel costs will make it difficult for them to expand.

Ringwood-born David and wife Debbie set up Callvan Hire in 1992 and operate from the Millstream Trading Estate in Ringwood.

"The van hire market is extremely competitive and there are some big national players, but we see ourselves as offering something different," said David.

"We still believe the personal touch is what matters in business and we think a reliable, friendly local service marks us out.

"Our customers know that if there's a problem, it will probably be the managing director or his wife who sorts it out."

Callvan Hire's vehicles are spotlessly clean, modern, boasting features such as CD player, electric windows, advanced braking system and heated windscreen.

The fleet ranges from Transits to seven-and-a-half tonne trucks, flatbeds and tippers and specialist refrigerated vehicles. There's a free delivery service for corporate clients and Callvan Hire's two-vehicle delivery truck runs on biofuel.