Plant & Go® vs. Load & Go®: Which Vehicle Is Right for Your Landscaping Business?

Grounds maintenance and landscaping businesses rely heavily on their fleet vehicles to perform as mobile operational platforms. The efficiency of a day’s work, from the first site to the last, is directly tied to how quickly, safely, and compliantly equipment can be transported, loaded, and unloaded. Towing a trailer can be slow, and requires additional driver qualifications, creating unnecessary complexity. Understanding this challenge, AKFS developed two purpose built, low loading special vehicles solutions specifically for this demanding sector: the Plant & Go® and the Load & Go® Grounds Maintenance Vehicles.

Both designs are founded on our core principle of being Built Without Compromise and both offer a vast improvement over standard commercial vehicle dropsides. However, they are engineered to solve subtly different operational challenges. Selecting the correct vehicle for your team’s specific tasks is a strategic decision that will impact everything from payload capacity and fuel efficiency to longevity and safety. 

We believe in providing solutions that are perfectly tailored to the job at hand, so we have outlined the key things to consider to help you make the right choice for your landscaping business.

The Plant & Go®: Engineered for Heavy Plant and Low Access

The Plant & Go® Vehicle is a purpose built solution designed with the needs of plant hire and heavy equipment transport firmly in mind. It is ideal for operations that frequently need to move compact plant machinery, such as mini diggers, tracked dumpers, rollers, and, of course, large ride on mowers, between locations. The design centres on delivering maximum accessibility and a highly efficient payload capability.

The defining characteristic of the Plant & Go® is its ultra low loading height. Built upon a specialist low floor chassis, such as the platforms supplied by Fiat and Peugeot, the vehicle boasts a working bed height of just 530mm. This low floor, combined with a beavertail rear end, creates an extremely shallow loading angle. This is a significant operational advantage, particularly for loading wheeled or tracked equipment with limited ground clearance. The 530mm working height significantly reduces the effort and risk associated with loading heavy plant, often removing the need for a powered tail lift entirely.

The conversion features lightweight, removable side ramps that are securely stowed along the sides of the vehicle body when not in use. This keeps the main deck clear and ensures the ramps are always available when needed. 

With an open design, the Plant & Go® Landscaper is specifically designed to accommodate even the largest professional ride on mowers and associated cutting decks. The vehicle utilises a Type Approved galvanised ladder frame chassis and an extruded aluminium non-slip floor, guaranteeing durability and safety when driving plant onto the deck.

The Plant & Go® is the preferred vehicle for businesses whose daily operations are heavily focused on the movement of heavy machinery. If your team regularly transports large, ride-on grass cutting equipment, compact plant, or specialised ground machinery that requires a low, wide, and stable loading platform, this vehicle provides the right solution. It is essentially a flexible, highly manoeuvrable transport solution that retains a generous payload capability within the standard 3,500kg GVW driving licence limits.

The Load & Go®: The Versatile Grounds Maintenance Workhorse

The Load & Go® Grounds Maintenance Vehicle is designed as a highly versatile and robust platform for general grounds maintenance work. While it can certainly carry plants, its key strength lies in its adaptability for teams that need to transport a varied mix of machinery, tools, and materials to multiple sites throughout the day. It focuses on combining ease of access with a design that supports an organised and safe working environment.

The Load & Go® is built upon a reliable chassis cab, such as the Renault Master, and features a fixed body design that is prized for its practicality and build quality. Its primary access point is a signature feature that simplifies daily operations. The vehicle is equipped with a renowned assisted tailgate. This feature is engineered for effortless operation and built to handle heavy equipment, such as ride on mowers. The shallow loading angle it creates makes loading and unloading safe, simple, and quick for the operator.

The robust design is ready for customisation. This vehicle is often fitted with optional accessories such as a removable caged side system, a surface mounted winch system, and various tool locker options. The versatility makes it ideal for year round work, from spring grass cutting, to autumn leaf collection and debris removal. The design prioritises the safety and comfort of the workforce, featuring a lightweight slip resistant floor, operative grab handles, and a standard one-piece fall arrest rail on each side. The Load & Go® is available on both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Electric Vehicle (EV) platforms, allowing businesses to adapt their fleet to meet changing sustainability goals without compromising on capability.

The Load & Go® is an excellent fit for grounds maintenance teams, councils, or facilities management companies that require a flexible workhorse. If your daily schedule involves carrying heavy mowers and machinery, but also requires the safe transport of loose materials, hand tools, debris, or a diverse inventory of equipment, the Load & Go® offers superior all round adaptability. Its standard assisted tailgate system provides immediate, safe access without the need for manual ramps, streamlining the process of moving between multiple sites and making it a firm favourite for its ease of use.

Making the Right Choice: Considering Your Daily Operations

The selection process should always start with a clear assessment of your daily operational needs. Both special vehicles embody the AKFS principle of expert engineering, but they lean into different operational strengths.

The Plant & Go®’s primary advantage is its ultra-low floor height, engineered for the easiest loading of tracked plant and heavy machinery, using lightweight, removable side ramps and a beavertail end. This extremely low loading height, around 530mm, makes it perfectly suited for transporting mini-diggers, tracked dumpers, and large ride-on mowers. It is typically built upon specialist low-floor chassis, such as those supplied by Fiat or Peugeot.

The Load & Go®, on the other hand, offers a versatile, robust body with an assisted tailgate for rapid, safe site access. Its loading mechanism is a heavy-duty, spring-assisted rear tailgate, which creates a low loading height that is very user friendly. It is designed for transporting ride-on mowers, diverse tools, bagged materials, and general grounds maintenance debris. This vehicle is typically built upon more conventional chassis cabs, such as the Renault Master or Mercedes Sprinter.

If your contracts frequently involve the heaviest, low clearance plant, or if you transport machinery on and off the vehicle numerous times a day, the simplicity and loading angle of the Plant & Go® make it exceptionally efficient. The unique low floor design provides an edge in pure plant transport efficiency.

If, however, your teams perform a wider spectrum of grounds maintenance, requiring a robust body with an effortless single piece loading ramp that also supports optional features like mesh sides for debris collection and integrated tool lockers for security, the Load & Go® offers the best balance of versatility and performance. Its proven design as a true grounds maintenance utility vehicle is trusted by numerous teams across the UK.

Your Fleet, Custom Built

Regardless of whether the Plant & Go® or Load & Go® is the right fit for your operation, choosing an AKFS solution means investing in a vehicle that is designed to provide reliability and efficiency for years to come. In the realm of grounds maintenance, these vehicles benefit from high quality, lightweight aluminium construction to maximise your usable payload and superior build quality to minimise downtime.

We always recommend speaking with one of our product specialists. They can take the time to truly understand your fleet needs, the exact equipment your teams use, and your long term goals. That personal approach is how we ensure that the vehicle you receive is precisely the tool your business needs to succeed. Your next grounds maintenance workhorse should be a strategic asset, not a logistical compromise.