Vans 4 Glass was set up to provide glass carrying vehicles on daily hire to the industry nationwide. Five years on and the company’s range of services continues to grow, explains founder and Managing Director Tony Crosbie.
To transport glass and window frames safely and efficiently requires specially adapted vehicles. Glazing companies operate fleets of vans with side-mounted frails and internal racking for this purpose. Consequently, when these vehicles are taken off the road due to a breakdown or accident it becomes a huge problem for the business.
Tony Crosbie realised this at a point during his career in vehicle contract hire and leasing. While supplying one of the major glass manufacturers and Greenberg Group he became aware of the industry’s special requirements and saw a niche.
“When a glass & glazing vehicle breaks down it’s a serious business, especially where Duty of Care and Health & Safety is involved”, says Tony. “To repair a glass carrier can take up to five weeks – repairing a frail takes up to 14 days, for example.
The vital importance of these vehicles is most apparent in the case of a small installation business with a single van; if the van is off the road for any reason, the business grinds to a halt.
Daily rental nationwide
Tony Crosbie set out to fill the gap in the market with Vans 4 Glass, a nationwide service that offered suitable vehicles on a flexible basis, from a day’s hire upwards.
He purchased specially adapted vans from the leading vehicle conversion specialists to the industry. From the Vans 4 Glass headquarters in Greater Manchester, he achieved a nationwide reach by establishing a network of storage depots in London, Birmingham and Cumbernauld, Glasgow.
Five years on and Vans 4 Glass has a fleet of 38 vehicles and supplies glazing companies large and small, the biggest single client being a well-known provider of home emergency repairs.
Features of the company’s hire service includes unlimited mileage and, unlike contract hire, there are no penalties involved. Special rates are offered for longer hire periods, and some clients use the service to manage seasonal demand.
The company’s standard van model is a long wheelbase Ford Transit with a high roof, adapted with one external rack, two internal racks and various other handling and safety features.
Vans 4 Glass is a member of the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) and the BVRLA some of its clients include fellow GGF members. In the past year, a growing number of sole traders and small businesses have used the hire service because the credit crunch has made it more difficult to obtain the finance to purchase vans.
Extending the service
Tony Crosbie has begun to extend the company’s remit beyond a basic hire service. “We offer a daily hire service and within that business model we can also offer experience and advice in regards of glass and glazing vehicles and supply”, he adds.
Additional services include the provision of a full liveried vehicle fleet to firms and consultancy work on how best to manage your vehicle fleet.
Vans 4 Glass is now firmly established and Tony hopes to build the vehicle fleet up to 60.
