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DAF XD awarded ‘International Truck of the Year 2023’
DAF’s New Generation XD series for vocational and distribution transport has been elected ‘International Truck of the Year 2023’. Harald Seidel, President of DAF Trucks, received the most prestigious award in the transport industry during an award ceremony at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany.
Just last year, the New Generation DAF XF, XG and XG+ series for long haul and heavy transport was elected ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’. Based on the International Truck of the Year rules, the annual award goes to the truck introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, making the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. This judgment relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint’ and Total Cost of Ownership. Summing up the jury vote, International Truck of the Year Chairman Gianenrico Griffini commented: “With the introduction of the new XD series, DAF has delivered a state-of-the-art distribution truck that sets a new benchmark in its class. The truck range significantly improves direct and indirect vision thus safety, a key factor for distribution vehicles. Also, the vehicle’s efficiency and driver comfort are introducing a new standard in this segment.” Griffini stressed that the IToY jury appreciates the driving position and the all-around enhanced visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low beltlines, and the optional kerb-view window. “These features - along with the corner view camera and the optional digital vision system that replaces the traditional main mirrors– improve safety of vulnerable road users in an impressive way.” In addition, the 24 jury members also praised the performance of the new, highly efficient powertrains of the XD, featuring the powerful PACCAR MX-11 engines with ZF TraXon automated gearbox with advanced predictive features. Also the announcement of a series of brand-new, fully electric powertrains impressed the jury committee.
DAF Trucks’ President Harald Seidel commented: “Winning the International Truck of the Year Award 2023 is a wonderful recognition for our DAF employees and dealers. It proves that the premium DAF XD sets the new industry standard for customers in vocational and distribution applications, offering first-class safety, efficiency and driver comfort.”
First full-electric Volta Zero drives off the production line in Steyr, Austria
Volta Trucks has confirmed that the first Volta Zero vehicle has been completed at the company’s contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria.
The landmark vehicle,
the first of a series of secondgeneration ‘Production Verification’ prototypes, will form part of a Pilot Fleet of trucks. These will be loaned to customers for extended periods in late 2022 and early 2023 to allow fleet operators to understand how the first purpose-built full-electric medium duty commercial vehicle will integrate into their operations. The start of series production of customer specification vehicles is on track to start in early 2023. Steyr Automotive has reserved a capacity of 14,000 vehicles per year for Volta Trucks from their total available production. Over time, manufacturing the Volta Zero will create 510 jobs, plus 180 jobs in the building of the cargo boxes, in addition to an estimated 2,000 positions within the supply chain. The manufacturing contract has a value of up to €1 billion over its lifetime.
Mandata appoints Chief Customer Officer
Mandata, a leading transport management software provider, has appointed Christopher Farnath as their Chief Customer Officer.
Christopher joins Mandata
with 25 years’ experience across multiple industry sectors. In his previous role as Chief Customer Officer, he helped customers including Sodexo, Universal and National Trust to increase their adoption of software solutions and consistently improve their outcomes. Mandata’s CEO, Chris Rigg, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Christopher to the Mandata family. His appointment emphasises our commitment to helping our customers achieve success and grow their businesses by providing them with world-class services and solutions. Christopher brings with him a wealth of best practices in the customer experience arena, acquired across several different business-to-business industry sectors, which will enable us to deliver a customer experience unrivalled in our industry.” Farnath’s experience will help Mandata support and develop the high-performing teams necessary to achieve greater customercentricity as the business expands its transport management software network in the coming months. Farnath said, “I am passionate about improving outcomes for customers by helping them shorten the time to achieving value from their software investment. It is hugely rewarding to help customers realise their business goals while delighting them with timely, authentic, and personal service.” Farnath will focus on supporting customers by establishing strategic initiatives that will deliver first-rate customer service to Mandata customers.
A Fresh New Look For PRM
PRM has revealed its new brand identity - winking at its heritage while reinventing itself for today’s modern world.
The Lisburn based sales & distribution business was founded in 1988 by Philip & Lynne Morrow. Celebrating 35 years in business next year the company now employs 250 people and has production facilities in Dromore and Derry. PRM offer a complete range of services that enable them to meet the diverse requirements of leading food brands, grocery retailers and their customers, thus making them the distribution partner of choice for many today. CEO & Founder, Philip Morrow said, “We started the process of refreshing our brand with a very clear vision of where we wanted our company to be positioned and the key messages we wanted our new corporate identity to communicate in relation to our service offering, our customer service commitments and our values as an employer. “This brand refresh signifies the beginning of the next chapter for PRM as we accelerate plans to futureproof and further grow the business as we respond to the continued demand for route to market services. “Part of our plans for growth include an expansion of our physical capacity and warehousing capabilities with the construction of a new purpose-built facility adjacent to our current premises in Lisburn.
Philip and Lynne Morrow.
Key Challenges
“Like all other local businesses, we have had to navigate the key challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit over the past two years. However, Brexit has presented us with new opportunities to offer solutions to the supply challenges many brands and retailers now face across GB and Ireland. “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved over the last 35 years, none of which would have been possible without the excellent people who have contributed to the continued growth of the business, some of whom have been with us from Day One and are still here today leading the company forward within their various departments.” Detailing some of the upgrades to the company’s brand toolkit, Marketing Manager Emma Morrow highlights that, “Within this reset of our brand our logo, colour palette and typeface have all been given a style evolution. Our new identity conveys quality, freshness and the dynamic nature of our business — representing our continued commitment to providing solutions for our suppliers and customers alike.” The company is in the process of launching its new website, staff uniforms and unveiling new livery across a fleet of 30 multi-temperature controlled vehicles.
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme is now officially a Delivery Partner with Driving for Better Business, the Government-backed National Highways programme helping employers reduce Work-Related Road Risk.
The move sees FORS join a host of influential industry organisations and stakeholders, including the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK, in supporting the Driving for Better Business vision of creating ‘a world where those who use the roads for work do so safely, efficiently and sustainably’. Partnering with Driving for Better Business is a significant step for FORS, underscoring its commitment to collaboration with likeminded organisations to communicate important messages of best practice to the industry. As a Delivery Partner, FORS will share its resources, expertise, support and thought leadership to help promote the values of the DfBB programme to the transport sector. FORS Concession Director, Ian Henderson, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Driving for Better Business to help operators manage their Work-Related Road Risk. The programme aligns with our own mandate to help FORS accredited operators work ‘safer, smarter and greener’, and we know it’s making a positive difference for their businesses, for vulnerable road users and for the wider community. “Today, FORS is a nationwide accreditation scheme comprising some 5,000 accredited operators, each delivering benchmark levels of safety, efficiency and sustainability. We’re setting out what ‘best-inclass’ looks like for businesses in these essential operational areas. We look forward to working closely with National Highways on the Driving for Better Business programme, together promoting best practice for drivers and transport professionals, and to drive up standards throughout the UK.” Driving for Better Business is a free, Government-backed programme that helps employers in the private and public sectors to reduce road risk in their business, improve driver safety and wellbeing, and ensure that their driving for work policies are compliant – typically leading to significant business benefits. Driving for Better Business Campaign Manager, Simon Turner, said, “It’s really exciting for us to have FORS on board as a partner with such a large community of experienced fleet operators. We will be keen to share some of that good practice, as well as the impressive business benefits seen by FORS accredited operators.”
