Utilimaster increases production of refrigerated vehicles

Utilimaster, a go-to-market brand of The Shyft Group, says it is increasing the production of its range of refrigerated vehicles in response to a recent shift in the way people get their groceries, with more people preferring the convenience of home delivery.

The company also said it has received orders from grocery chains around the country for more than 500 refrigerated and other units during the last several months.

“Consumers expect reliable, on-time service with their grocery delivery orders,” said Daryl Adams, president and chief executive officer of The Shyft Group. “Utilimaster understands this need and provides a wide range of vehicles to meet efficient and safe grocery delivery demands. Whether it’s a grocery delivery to your door or a heavy-duty truck from the distribution center to a retail grocer, Utilimaster has the best purpose-built solution on the road, today, and tomorrow.”

After “thousands” of ride-along studies, Utilimaster analyzed and assessed how to meet the demands of growing industries, such as grocery delivery, engineering, and offering specific solutions that match each fleet’s unique needs, according to the company. Utilimaster offers a wide range of temperature-controlled vehicles, including multi-temp vehicles that can span GVWR classes and are designed to deliver a variety of foods at their optimum temperature, including fresh, frozen, cold, and ambient temperature goods, within the same vehicle.

The company’s ability to sell and service vehicles across the GVWR Class 1-7 spectrum include:

• Velocity: Utilimaster’s latest addition to its delivery lineup now includes the ability to carry fresh and frozen goods. The vehicle is unique in its small format and large cargo capacity, providing the nimbleness, comfort, and fuel efficiency of a cargo van with the accessibility and capacity of a walk-in van
• Walk-in step-vans: With a highly adaptable cargo area and multiple side and rear door configurations, it offers maximum versatility and interior design features
• Cargo van upfits: Provides customer-specific purpose-built storage configurations for high-frequency, urban, and suburban grocery delivery

“As more customers in urban, suburban, and rural areas seek grocery delivery solutions, our commitment to provide diversified vehicle offerings has increased in response,” said Chad Heminover, president of Shyft fleet vehicles and services. “Adding the Velocity, an agile and adaptable last mile delivery vehicle, to our temperature-controlled vehicle lineup has gotten the attention of grocers and food suppliers of all sizes across the country.

“In addition to our broad vehicle lineup, Utilimaster produces refrigerated vehicles across our manufacturing footprint, so we are uniquely positioned to meet customer needs, from both a manufacturing and distribution standpoint.”

Visit theshyftgroup.com for more information.