PLS Laundry provides a high-quality linen service to the hospitality industry throughout Scotland and the North of England from the facility in Bonnyrigg on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Operating a mixed fleet of box trucks and LWB vans, Alltruck has been providing PLS with rental and maintenance support for the past two years. The relationship has developed from short term hire to vehicles on contract hire and now resulting in a full fleet replacement programme.

Robert Bald PLS Transport Manager and Tommy Leadbeater our Rental Manager


After an extensive review of the customers’ application and requirements, it was agreed that the existing standard 18-tonne boxes that PLS were currently leasing from their initial supplier were not suitable for their needs. Purpose-built vehicles were the only way forward to meet the operational demands of the business. By doing so, the bespoke vehicles would create greater efficiency and increase productivity in the day to day transport operations. It was clear to us from the outset that the customer would benefit from an increase in cubic capacity, and increased payload. With this in mind we also looked at the impact this would have on fuel economy and manoeuvrability. It was also clear that we had to address the standard tail lift design, access for the laundry carts and cages could at times be problematic and did pose a safety risk when loading and unloading.

After considerable thought and examining a range of manufacturers chassis, we opted for a DAF LF55 18.260 sleeper cab sourced from Lothian DAF in Edinburgh. Specified with the fuel-efficient Euro 6 260hp engine and AS Tronic fully automatic gearbox this model was proven to be the best value when considering its weight advantage. 

The existing fleet had standard 26ft bodies and after consultation with our group coachbuilder PMH, we fitted the new chassis with purpose-built PMH 30ft Streamlink GRP Box Bodies, an aerodynamic lightweight body with additional features of; re-inforced bulkhead, specialised interior load track system to the sides, floor and walls along with load shoring poles specific to the customers’ needs. We also fitted a Dhollandia 1500kgs column tail lift with 3-way stops and safety rails, all built to suit the customers’ requirements and to ensure maximum productivity and performance.

Martin Shaw Commented – The relationship that we have developed with PLS Laundry is another excellent example of Alltruck providing competitive and reliable maintenance service for this customer, which has seen the relationship between the two companies develop into Alltruck providing short and long term hire solutions, working closely with the management team to source and build the most suitable vehicle for their application and then further support this with our comprehensive R&M Package which has been agreed for 48 months on these new vehicles.

Robert Bald PLS Transport Manager commented “Having tried a number of suppliers over the years, Alltruck has provided us by far the best service and back up with both our rental and purchased fleet. The ongoing maintenance is second to none and I would not hesitate in letting others know that Alltruck should be the first name on your contact lists for vehicle requirements in Scotland. When we decided to invest in new vehicle’s for our fleet, there was really only one supplier to consider and the whole process from initial enquiry through to handover was faultless”

Since July 2017 PLS Laundry is now owned by Johnson Service Group PLC, one of the UK’s largest textile rental companies and a leading supplier of workwear and protective wear. Previously a family-owned business founded in 1996, PLS joins a formidable group of brands in the hospitality, catering, hotel and restaurant industries.