GB Fleetcare invests in truck servicing facility at DIRFT

DAF has opened a purpose-built truck servicing facility at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT).

The 1.6-acre site – which is located on the A5 Watling Street, within the Golden Triangle of the Rail Freight Terminal, junction 18 of the M1 motorway and M6/A14 interchange – represents a £3.2m investment from GB Fleetcare. This is the contract maintenance company’s third GB DAF location, including service centres in Banbury and Gatwick.

GB Fleetcare is an official DAF Service Partner, and this facility takes the number of DAF dealer locations in the UK to 137.

On the site is a 15,000sq ft workshop with five 28m fully equipped bays. It has been futureproofed, allowing it to accommodate full electric and hydrogen-powered trucks. Equipment includes gas alarms and a roof venting system, pit ventilation, a 400-amp electricity supply and multiple ducts around the site to enable installation of vehicle chargers as required. DAF and TRP parts stock are held on site, and in time it will become both an Approved Tachograph Centre and a DVSA Authorised Testing Facility.

GB Fleetcare MD Paul Grimes said: “It’s been a long journey, but we’re thrilled to be here in what is the premier location in the UK for large-scale logistics companies. We identified the site in 2016 when Prologis, the owners of DIRFT, revealed plans for growth. We’ve worked extremely hard to build what we believe is the most modern, well-equipped truck servicing facility at the terminal and in precisely the right location. And, we’re just as delighted to be strengthening our relationship with market-leading DAF Trucks. “Together we will bring unrivalled levels of service for DAF and mixed fleet operators.”

Newly appointed service manager Ben Taylor initially heads up a team of six fully trained DAF technicians, but there are plans to increase this number to 21 by the end of the year.