Gitsham Automotive – Setting the Benchmark for Fleet Safety and Quality
WORDS BY GITSHAM AUTOMOTIVE
Australia’ s leading manufacturer of light commercial fleet fitout systems and home to Australia’ s only ADR independently crash-tested service body system.
Duty of care is increasingly front of mind as Australian businesses raise the bar on fleet standards and look to international best practice to protect their people and equipment. Fleets of every size are now demanding higher safety standards, including central locking, three-point locking systems, crash-tested internal racking, safety grab handles, steps and lighting systems.
Modern light commercial vehicles have never been safer. ANCAP ratings continue to improve, while technologies such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, autonomous emergency braking and improved occupant protection have transformed vehicle safety.
Yet one critical component is often overlooked: the service body itself, and the internal accessories fitted to it.
A service body is far more than a storage solution. Once installed, it becomes an integral part of the vehicle. Its design, structural integrity and method of attachment all contribute to occupant protection, equipment retention and overall vehicle performance. Bolt-down toolboxes, generic brackets and mismatched mounting components can compromise the safety and integrity of the complete vehicle.
“ Vehicles have never been safer. The fitout is where standards can slip. A service body becomes part of the vehicle. It should be engineered, tested and built to the same standard, for the driver, their equipment and your duty of care. As an industry, we ' re seeing more HR managers involved in fleet design and procurement decisions, and that ' s a welcome shift. We design the most innovative, highest quality service bodies and accessories on the market. That’ s the standard we set at Gitsham Automotive and Bott Storage Systems. Don ' t compromise on safety. It ' s your duty of care, and it ' s non-negotiable.”- Robert Statham, CEO, Gitsham Automotive & Bott Storage Systems.
Gitsham Automotive has developed Australia’ s only ADR independently crash tested service body system, giving fleet operators greater confidence in the safety, integrity and performance of their vehicles.
Central to the design is Gitsham ' s unique chassis mounting system, engineered specifically for each vehicle model to securely integrate the service body with the vehicle chassis. Designed to withstand frontal and lateral impact forces, the system maintains structural integrity, improves equipment retention, and enables changeover to other vehicle models.
This commitment to engineering extends across every Gitsham service body and accessory. Highquality construction and secure storage also help protect valuable equipment against break-ins and theft.
Designed and manufactured in Australia, Gitsham service bodies are built as complete systems to deliver the strength, durability and reliability required in demanding fleet environments. Our systems are trusted by Defence, emergency
12 ISSUE 60 AUGUST 2026 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU