Story & photo by Randy S. Peregrino
ONCE again, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has proven why it is the leading truck manufacturer in the country.
In the recently concluded 2018 Isuzu Truck Fest held at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the company not only showcased its latest lineup of Blue Power trucks but also introduced another game-changing customer support program—the Isuzu Advantage.
“Our company has been the consistent No. 1 truck brand in the country for 18 years. Isuzu globally is known for its durable and dependable trucks that can withstand the challenging business operations, but what is more important is the support that we provide to our clients along with every purchase—and this is the Isuzu Advantage,” said IPC President Hajime Koso.
Enumerated during the event was the latest program aimed not only to deliver excellent after-sales support, but to further strengthen the manufacturer’s business relationship with its customers. First was the vast nationwide dealer network. Now with more than 40 dealer outlets complete with servicing facility and dedicated truck bays, the number is even expected to increase as more will open from this year’s network expansion. Next was the nationwide parts availability. Establishing a 6,000-square meter warehouse facility last year, this would cope with the increasing demand as it operates on a daily basis and is capable to deliver parts nationwide.
Then there’s also the expert service technicians, and not to mention the special Japanese truck field engineers. Together, they are available to support and answer customer queries and other technical requirements. Another interesting inclusion was the specialized service trucks to provide roadside assistance to fleet customers—the Isuzu Mobile Medic. Last, offering series of safety and technical trainings for drivers and mechanics, respectively. The safety training focusses more on handling the heavy-duty trucks, including the recently launched eco-driving program to teach fleet drivers the importance of efficient driving.
Trucks on display
EXHIBITED during the 2018 Truck Fest was the best-selling Isuzu N-Series light truck lineup. These comprised of seven various body applications, such as the NLR 77 Flexitruck, NLR85 Refrigerated Van cooling by MIT-AIR, NMR85 Cab & Chassis, NPR85 Aluminum Van with tailgate, NQR75 Dropside, NKR71 NCOOL Fruehauf Refrigerated Van cooling by Denso, and the special Fruehauf Refrigerated cut-away van body.
Meantime, the F-Series medium-duty truck showcased were the FSR34 Flatbed, FVR34 Dropside with Crane, and the FVM34 G-CARGO Fruehauf Wing Van. As for the heavyweight C and E series, the CYZ Dump Truck, EXR52 Tractor Head and EXZ52 Tractor Head with Trailer were also there. Added this year was the D-MAX pickup trucks in various commercial applications. There’s one with FlexiQube body, another with Refrigerated Van by Coolaire and also another variant with Crane.
For the first time, IPC debuted its newest addition to the light-duty fleet—the QKR series. To make it more exciting, presented were the different versions of Isuzu’s latest versions of modern PUV prototypes designed by Centro, Almazora and Santarosa Motor. Likewise, other body builders on-site, such as Multi-lift, Pinnacle, Red Dragon, Columbian Motor, JVF, Denso, and CoolAire, were also there to entertain customer requirements for choice of trucks for specific business.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino