DAF Driver Spring 2019 – issue 16

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ISSUE 16

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SPRING 2019

DAF DRIVER INSIDE THE UK’S #1 TRUCK MANUFACTURER

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR ARNOLD JONES CELEBRATES 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND A NEW GENERATION IN CHARGE

ALSO:

TeamBRIT

Behind the scenes at the team for disabled racers

Royal Enfield

The oldest bike manufacturer in the world rides again!

Getting hitched

The DAF Driver guide to trailer coupling and uncoupling

LATEST DAF TRUCKS NEWS • UK DEALER LOCATOR • OPERATOR SUCCESS STORIES • INDUSTRY OPINION • HEALTH AND SAFETY

DAF XF, CF AND LF PURE EXCELLENCE

Ultimate fuel efficiency, safety and comfort

Our range of DAF trucks is better than ever. Optimised drivelines and aerodynamic improvements deliver increased fuel savings of up to 7%. Advanced safety systems like AEBS and FCW protect both the driver and other road users. What’s more, high-end materials make the cabs supremely comfortable. Experience Pure Excellence for yourself. Ask your dealer for a test drive or visit www.daf.com.

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY

WELCOME FROM YOUR PUBLISHER

WELCOME TO THE SECOND EDITION OF OUR NEW-LOOK MAGAZINE Delve inside and you’ll find a whole lot of news stories, advice articles and general features of interest not only to lovers of the DAF Trucks brand but also to all UK truck fans. Enjoy!

Publisher - Matthew Eisenegger

HOW TO GO GREEN - AND CLEAN

I

t seems there are Clean Air and Low Emission Zones springing up all over the country now, and that spells trouble for many operators who either use second-hand vehicles of Euro V or earlier, or have trucks fitted with special equipment which are budgeted for a long life.

There’s also no consideration given to operators who paid a premium for buying the lowestemission trucks available prior to Euro 6: EEV, or Enhanced Environmental Vehicles.

And we should not forget that when the EEV standard was first introduced, it was thought to be so stringent that only vehicles running on gas would be in the running for it. DAF demonstrated its leadership in diesel technology by introducing the standard on conventionally-fuelled trucks.

While we all enjoy the benefits of clean air, it seems that many local authorities have singled out trucks for charges that are designed to make their use uneconomic (and in some cases put their operators out of business), while letting the use of more polluting cars continue unfettered.

Meanwhile, major pollution sources such as woodburning stoves and fast-food joints, are left out of the equation altogether. And yes, Bath and North-East Somerset Council, we are looking at you here.

With demand for Euro 5 trucks seemingly dropping by the day, the gap between the trucks you have and the new trucks that you want to buy, may be too big to jump in one go.

But there is an alternative. A quick search of the DAF dealer network website (www. dafdealernetwork.co.uk/usedtrucks ) reveals that there are dozens of used DAF trucks, both tractors

and rigids, awaiting new owners. You can read more about this on page 11.

To be fair, some of the provincial towns and cities introducing Clean Air Zones are offering financial help to local operators forced to replace older vehicles earlier than budgeted, or letting existing lease periods run to term without tolling non-compliant trucks. Leeds operators for example, can get grants of up to £16,000 to help with the transition to Euro 6, while Bath will make interest-free loans available and provide exemptions from its charge until the end of 2022 for operators unable to secure this funding.

But what about London?

Transport for London is in line for an annual windfall of £220 million from the capital’s UltraLow Emissions Zone. A comparatively small sum has been earmarked for a van scrappage scheme for microbusinesses employing less than 10 people. But there’s nothing left over for the rest, despite TfL making an £823 million profit on its Underground services. All this and more is being sucked up by a political pledge made by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to freeze bus fares. If this move was supposed to boost bus use, it hasn’t worked.

Bus usage in London has been declining for four years, and the bus network now needs a £772 million subsidy just to maintain it in its declining state.

Buses still provide an important part of London’s transport provision: but so then do trucks and vans. And while not everyone uses the buses, all Londoners benefit from the goods and services provided by freight vehicles large and small. If only the mayor’s office could recognise this.

Welcome to

By downloading a free app on to your s to life using the power of a new techno To access bonus content on this page s

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Download the ooh-AR app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).

Welcome to ooh-AR Download our free app to your smartphone or tablet and bring this publication to life using the power of a new technology called Augmented Reality (AR).

To access bonus content in this issue follow these instructions:

• Download the ooh-AR app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).

• Open the app and point your device at the photos where you see the AR content icon pictured above – and wait for the surprise.

• Double tap for a full-screen.

Augmented Reality services by

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CONTENTS

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INFORMATION

FEATURES 10-11 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Dutch DAF operators get their hands on electric trucks

12-13 POINT IN A NEW DIRECTION Two new XFs head to the UK’s midlands

18-23 LIVING THE DREAM Callum Price-Jones always wanted to drive a truck, now he’s running a haulage business

26-31 TRUE BRIT Helped by DAF backing, the race team has a bright future

32-35 BOTH BARRELS BLAZING

REGULARS 6-8 NEWS ROUNDUP All the latest from DAF and the road transport industry

16-17 MONEY MATTERS Looking at the impact of clean air zones on your business

22-24 CARS ON TEST Verdict on the second generation Range Rover Evoque

44-46 MEET THE TRAINERS Read about the fascinating life of Solway DAF’s Neil Armstrong

48-49 DEALER MAP

Royal Enfield blasts back into the motorcycle market

Locations and contact details for the DAF dealer network

36-39 IN DRIVERS WE TRUST

53 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A 40-year-old transport business shares secrets of its success

Your chance to win a fantastic prize in our easy-to-enter competition

40-43 COUPLING & UNCOUPLING Emphasising the importance of careful trailer management

54 SIMPSON SAYS What might be on the cards when ‘Euro 7’ legislation is finalised?

EDITORIAL Publisher: Matthew Eisenegger Managing Editor: John Challen Designer: Leo Gehlcken Editorial Address: Commercial Vehicle Media & Publishing Ltd, 4th Floor 19 Capesthorne Drive, Eaves Green, Chorley, Lancashire. PR7 3QQ Telephone: 01257 231521 email: matthew@cvdriver.com ADVERTISING Advertising Sales: David Johns Telephone: 01388 517906 Mobile: 07590 547343 Email: sales@cvdriver.com DESIGN Art Editor: Leo Gehlcken Telephone: 01257 231521 Email: design@cvdriver.com CONTRIBUTORS Paul O’Malley Richard Simpson Richard Warner Kevin Swallow Mandy Wannerton PUBLISHER Commercial Vehicle Media & Publishing Ltd, 4th Floor, 19 Capesthorne Drive, Eaves Green, Chorley, Lancashire. PR7 3QQ Telephone: 01257 231521 PRINTING MRC Print Consultancy Ltd 33 Uttoxeter Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST3 1NY Tel: 07764 951927 NOTE

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The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine’s contents are correct. All material published in DAF Driver Magazine is copyright and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden.

The Editors and publisher of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised in this edition.

DAF Driver Magazine is published under a licence from Commercial Vehicle Media & Publishing Ltd. All rights in the licensed material belong to Matthew Eisenegger or Commercial Vehicle Media and Publishing Ltd and may not be reproduced whether in whole or in part, without their prior written consent. DAF Driver Magazine is a registered trademark.

If you are not going to keep this magazine for future reference please pass it on or recycle it.

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DAF NEWS

Van drivers admit illegal mobile phone use More than half of van drivers admitted to making calls behind the wheel without using a hands-free device, according to new research.

Van drivers spend an average of 35 minutes on the phone each day, in their vehicles, making an average of seven calls a day. One in 10 spend two hours on the phone while driving during their working day.

The result of this investigation comes two years on from tougher laws governing the use of mobile phones. Since March 2017, driving while using a device – including making calls, texting, taking selfies or posting on social media – has carried a fine of £200 and a six point penaltyendorsement on your licence. Being caught twice is enough to have your licence revoked.

However, many are risking breaking the law by not

having a hands-free kit in their van (23 per cent) or failing to use the technology even if their vehicle is fullyequipped (33%). Just over a quarter (27%) said their vehicle was fitted with hands-free and they always use it to make

phone calls while driving.

Recent government statistics reveal, nearly half a million drivers still use their phones behind the wheel, despite phone distraction being listed as a contributory factor in over 30 deaths annually. ●

DAF AROUND THE UK – EVENTS FOR 2019

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30 Apr – 2 May

CV Show

NEC Birmingham

5 – 6 May

Truckfest Peterborough

East of England Showground, Peterborough

14 - 17 May

APSE Scotland

Coylumbridge, Aviemore

22 – 23 May

Let’s Recycle Live

NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

30 May – 1 Jun

Tip Ex / Tank Ex

Harrogate, Yorkshire

6 - 8 June

Royal Cornwall Show

Wadebridge, Cornwall

15 Jun

Leyland Festival

Leyland, Lancashire

22 – 23 June

Kelsall Steam Rally

Ashton, Nr Chester

26-27 June

Royal Norfolk Show

Norfolk Showground, Norwich

29 – 30 Jun

Truckfest West Midlands & Wales Three Counties Showground, Malvern

31 July – 1 Aug

Black Isle Show

Mannsfield Showground, Ross-shire

3 – 4 Aug

Truckfest Scotland

Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

10 – 11 Aug

Convoy in the Park

Donington Park

17 – 18 Aug

Truckfest South East

The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent

31 Aug – 1 Sep

Truckfest South West

Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet

14 – 15 Sep

Truckfest North West

Cheshire Showground, Knutsford

6 Nov

Freight in the City

Alexandra Palace, London

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

GLIMMER OF HOPE OVER ROAD REPAIRS Local authorities are filling a pothole every 17 seconds, but still paid out £6.9 million in pothole compensation claims, according to this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey.

It also reveals that the average time in England and Wales before a road is resurfaced is 67 years (79 years in England, 28 years in London and 59 years in Wales).

The report’s authors, the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), says there are signs that an increase in local authority highway maintenance budgets is stemming the decline in the condition of the local road network, but the increased investment is still falling short of the amount needed to maintain local roads to target conditions.

For the second consecutive year, local authorities’ highway maintenance budgets have increased by almost 20%.

For councils in England and London this included a share of £420m additional funding allocated in the November 2018 Budget.

The 24th ALARM report shows there are early signs that the extra money is halting further decline, after years of underfunding have led to a local road network on the edge.

However, the one-time catchup cost to fix the network continues to rise.

Rick Green, chairman of the AIA, said: “There is a glimmer of hope but, while overall highway maintenance budgets are up, there is still a big discrepancy between the haves and have nots.” ●

4 Cameras 1 Image 0 Blind Spots

DAF NEWS

TRUCK FIRMS CALL FOR HELP OVER NEW LONDON ULEZ ZONE With the launch of London’s latest Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on April 8, the truck fleet industry has called for more support to help businesses comply with clean air zones (CAZs).

More than 60 towns and cities are currently considering new measures to tackle pollution, including the introduction of CAZs. As a result, just about every corner of the UK will be implementing some form of air improvement strategy within the next few years, leading to further calls for a consistent approach to how rules are applied.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says it would like to see more support for those who will struggle most to comply with CAZs, such as small businesses and operators of specialist fleets.

Natalie Chapman, FTA head of urban policy, said: “Some fleets are locked into lease agreements that will be expensive to get out of – or they may struggle to get replacement vehicles in time, especially if they require significant after-market bodywork.”

The warning comes as Public Health England (PHE) said 28,000 to 36,000 deaths in the UK each year could be attributed to longterm exposure to air pollution.

Its report describes air pollution as the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, and outlines a series of recommendations for improving air quality, including stopping cars idling near school gates, promoting car pool lanes, providing priority parking for electric cars and employing low emission or clean air zones.

Vans and trucks can have long replacement cycles, increasing the likelihood of mixed fleets running non-compliant vehicles and incurring charges. Vans, on average, are typically replaced every four years, but some fleet operators may use their assets for much longer, for up to eight years, while trucks can stay on the fleet for 10-12 years.

Research has suggested that around 45% of all cars, 40% of light goods vehicles (LGVs) and more than one in three (38%) trucks will need to pay the charge.

Transport for London (TfL) has previously suggested that up to 60,000 vehicles could fall foul of the the new ULEZ charge, which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week. ●

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DAF NEWS

DAF TRUCKS RECOGNISES THE UK’S TOP-PERFORMING DAF DEALERS DAF Dealer Watts Truck & Van in Cardiff has been crowned 2018 ‘Dealer of the Year’ – the principle accolade in DAF Trucks’ annual awards for its network members.

The DAF Dealer Awards also highlighted Solway DAF in Carlisle, as it was awarded the ‘Managing Directors’ award for its ‘exemplary reputation for customer service’ in 2018.

Watts Truck & Van earned the headline Dealer of the Year honour after amassing most points in DAF Trucks’ dealer target programme – a 12-month analysis of performance against a range of sales, service and parts parameters. The programme saw Watts Truck & Van rated as an ‘AA’ performing DAF Dealer, while its Service Dealers in Newport and

Swansea are ‘A’ rated. In the last year, Watts has made a number of investments, including a facility for its Swansea parts and service location.

For Solway DAF, the ‘Managing Directors’ Award follows a memorable year for the Carlisle dealership.

The family-run business celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018, made even more notable by delivering record sales figures, and also earning an ‘AA’ rating. Solway DAF backed-up this headline award with the Parts Dealer of the Year accolade, presented to the company after achieving 26% parts sales growth year-onyear.

“Remarkably, these two dealers have improved on their already extremely high

levels of performance,” said DAF Trucks Managing Director, Robin Easton. “In fact, all our award winners have raised the bar yet again in 2018. And the same is true right across the UK DAF Dealer network – a network

Above: Simon Griffin, Dealer Principal, Watts Truck & Van (left) and Robin Easton, Managing Director DAF Trucks

which can take full credit for maintaining our above 6-tonnes market leading position for an unprecedented 24 consecutive years.” ●

BIBBY CUTS ACCIDENTS BY ONE-THIRD

DANGERS OF CABBING-IT ON FERRIES Truck drivers have been reminded of the dangers of sleeping in their vehicles during ferry crossings, by the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch (MIAB). The shipping safety watchdog, issued the warning ahead of a full report into an incident in which trucks rolled on to their side on a ferry, while it sailed from Northern Ireland to Scotland in high winds and rough seas last December.

P&O ferry, European Causeway, reportedly underwent a “big dip” during the crossing.

MIAB’s investigation into the incident on the December 18 sailing between Larne and Cairnryan, found at least six drivers had remained in their cab during the crossing, although the ferry crew had instructed them to vacate their vehicle after parking. Four drivers were found in toppled vehicles on arrival at Cairnryan, and one had to be freed by emergency services.

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

Independent haulier and logistics provider, Bibby Distribution, has cut its total accident rate by almost a third since launching its Road to Zero Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) strategy four years ago.

Since 2015, Bibby has reduced total accidents by 30 per cent, RIDDORs (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations) by 60 per cent and overall Lost Time Accidents (LTAs) by 37 per cent.

The company’s long-term strategy aims for zero harm, zero waste and zero environmental impact across the entirety of its operations, and all staff are encouraged to be accountable for safe working practices.

Andrew Mawson, head of

SHEQ at Bibby Distribution, said: “We’ve always had a reputation for safe working practices, and we’re keen to push that even further with our Road to Zero strategy.

“The results speak for themselves and we are grateful to all of our staff who are putting safety first across our business.”

Bibby Distribution’s success with driver safety can be attributed to targeted training using data derived from its full-fleet telematics systems, as well as the £1 million installation of in-cab cameras across its entire fleet.

The company also holds an annual, dedicated health and safety conference to share best practice across the business, where staff can suggest further initiatives.

DAF NEWS

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SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

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ELECTRIC TRUCKS

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Dutch operators are among the first to get their hands on DAF’s electric trucks Words: John Challen Photographs: DAF Trucks

Going Dutch: DAF has supplied CF Electrics to Tinie Manders Transport and supermarket Albert Heijn

A

s it reacts to an ever-changing transport industry and prepares for the age of electric commercial vehicles, DAF Trucks announced its battery-powered plans at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover. Fastforward a few months and the EVs have hit the streets in Holland.

Earlier this year, DAF Trucks delivered a fully electric truck to Tinie Manders Transport in Geldrop, the Netherlands. The DAF CF Electric, featuring E-Power technology from VDL, is used on behalf of DHL for shuttle services in the Eindhoven region. The first CF Electric was put into operation last December by supermarket chain Jumbo.

Jos Habets, Director Operations and member of the Board of Management at DAF Trucks, handed over the key of the CF Electric to the management team of Manders Transport. The 83-year-old family business, based in the Brabant region of the Netherlands, is currently under the leadership of the third generation who run a fleet of 50 vehicles.

“It is clear that the transport sector is on the cusp of a major transformation,” commented Jos Habets at the handover. “The electric truck is set to become the norm in more and more urban areas in future. I am extremely proud that we are now in a position to broaden our experience with electric trucks, in collaboration with Tinie Manders Transport. The data that we collect about both the technology and the operational deployment, will feed into the specifications for the final production models, thus ensuring that they fit seamlessly with the requirements of the market.”

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

Zero emission zone “We are very proud to be one of the first to drive this pioneering DAF,” stated Eveline Manders, Operations Manager at Tinie Manders Transport. “We have been involved in its development from the outset and we are curious to see the results in practice.

Our decision as to whether to expand the range of electric vehicles within our company, will be based not only on the zero emission factor, but also on the ease of use and the additional possibilities that this truck offers us.

“Zero emission, combined with the minimal noise levels of the truck, mean that we can also meet the increasingly stringent legal requirements for inner city transport, thereby enabling us to set ourselves apart from the competition,” she added.

Technical input “Tinie Manders, DAF Trucks and VDL all boast a strong foundation, a thorough approach and top-quality innovation.

It is truly wonderful to see three companies from the Brabant region come together in this way to test the DAF CF Electric featuring VDL E-Power in practice,” said Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep. “Tinie Manders had the confidence to stick its neck out, getting in contact straight away to express their interest in participating in the testing phase for this development project. As a result, the family business has played an important role in the creation of this innovative vehicle, which offers the world progress in terms of achieving sustainability in goods transport. The handover marks an important step towards fully electrifying the large-

ELECTRIC TRUCKS

scale transport operations between companies in and around Eindhoven, and thereby helping to improve local air quality, reduce noise pollution and lower CO2 emissions.”

Tinie Manders Transport will combine the fully electric truck with a fully electric refrigerated trailer. This combination made the Geldrop-based transporter eligible for the DKTI subsidy for sustainable transport.

Market value Elsewhere in the Netherlands, DAF Trucks has helped Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn to supply its shops electrically by handing over the first electric trucks to Albert Heijn carriers Simon Loos and Peter Appel Transport. It is the start of a longterm field test involving three fully electric trucks and two plug-in hybrid trucks — with the latter marking a first in Europe.

In 2014, Albert Heijn – with over 1,000 supermarkets in Holland, Belgium and Germany – signed up to the ‘Green Deal for Zero Emission City Logistics’; an initiative that brings together shippers, carriers, technicians and authorities, to jointly conduct research into how to achieve maximum progress towards zero-emission deliveries in urban areas by 2025. For Albert Heijn, DAF, Simon Loos, Peter Appel Transport and TNO – Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research – the trial, now launched, will provide insight into how the transition to zero-emission deliveries could take shape.

The best of both worlds The test project involves three CF Electrics and two CF Hybrids, plus a quick-charging infrastructure from VDL. The CF Electric has a fully electric range of some 100km, while the CF Hybrid, which uses VDL’s E-Power technology, offers the best of both worlds. With the hybrid, drivers can experience fully electric driving in urban areas (the range for EV mode is up to 50km) but also efficient and clean driving in extra-urban areas, thanks to DAF’s latest diesel technology.

The partners intend to gather as much information as possible about the technical, operational, financial and organisational Below: Jos Habets, Director of Operations and member of the Board of Management at DAF Trucks hands over the keys to the CF Electric to the Manders family from Tinie Manders Transport

aspects involved in making zero-emission deliveries to supermarkets. TNO will analyse the results of the trial with a view to establishing a strategy for implementing zero-emission deliveries to supermarkets in the near future.

Zero-emission deliveries Testing with the fully electric CF Electric trucks will initially be limited to journeys between the distribution center in Zaandam and the supermarkets in Amsterdam. With plug-in hybrid trucks, Albert Heijn can also supply stores further away from Zaandam without any emissions. The truck batteries will be charged between journeys at a specially designed charging park at the Albert Heijn distribution centre in Zaandam.

The Albert Heijn involves five electric trucks, plus a quick-charging infrastructure from VDL

ABOUT THE DAF CF ELECTRIC The DAF CF Electric is a 4x2 truck unit developed for road haulage of up to 37 tonnes in urban areas, for which single-axle or dual-axle trailers are the norm.

The vehicle is based on the DAF CF and is operated fully electrically, using VDL’s E-Power technology. The core of this intelligent powertrain is a 210kW electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, with a current total capacity of 144kWh. The CF Electric has a range of approximately 100km, depending on the weight of its cargo, making it suitable for high-volume transport in the urban distribution market. The batteries have a 30-minute quick-charge feature and a full charge takes just one and a half hours.

DAF CF Electric — Technical specifications Truck weight Electric motor

9,700kg 210kW

Torque 2,000Nm Battery capacity Range of fully charged vehicle Battery quick-charge Full charge

170kWh up to 100km 30 minutes 1.5 hours

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OPERATOR PROFILE

POINT IN A NEW DIRECTION Two new XFs head to the midlands as the first DAF trucks for OnPoint Logistics enter service Words: Paul O’Malley Photographs: DAF Trucks

B Above: The arrival of the DAFs coincide with OnPoint’s recent partnership with Palletforce

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irmingham-based haulage and distribution specialist, OnPoint Logistics, has taken delivery of two top-of-the-range DAF XF530 FTG three-axle tractors – the first ever DAF products in the company’s fleet. The introduction of the new XFs signals OnPoint’s intention to benchmark DAF Trucks’ premium-duty model against its existing marques.

Equipped with Super Space Cabs, the new DAFs coincide with OnPoint’s recent partnership with Palletforce, with the company embarking on operations throughout the UK and overseas. The deliveries signal further growth of the OnPoint fleet, with its truck fleet now topping 95 units.

The new XFs were supplied by DAF dealer Imperial Commercials in Halesowen.

OnPoint is also receiving deliveries of seven new tri-axle trailers from Winsford-based Tiger Trailers. The new curtainsided trailer fleet comprises straight-frame and new double-deck ‘tall-boy’ trailers.

The introduction of the DAF XF product sees OnPoint continue its policy of operating premium specification trucks. “We have seen DAF’s six-wheel Super Space Cab in a number of high-profile fleets, so we felt it time to benchmark the truck against our other premium duty fleet models,” explains OnPoint’s Operations Director, Anthony Delaney.

Specialising in telecoms and IT relocation, OnPoint cites BT, Virgin Media and Fujitsu among its client portfolio. “We’re increasingly working with Blue Chip companies in the automotive and retail sectors – and our on-road presence must underscore and reflect these business relationships,” says Delaney. “Initial feedback from our drivers is very favourable indeed; early signs of excellent fuel economy are also evident and I’m looking forward to seeing how the DAF XF acquits itself long-term against our more established models.”

OnPoint offers a range of distribution services including contract haulage, time-critical, secure storage, IT specialisation and abnormal loads.

OPERATOR PROFILE Left: The new Tiger Trailers HQ in Winsford, Cheshire Right: Richard Else, newly-appointed Manufacturing Director at Tiger Trailers

TIGER’S NEW HOME

TRAILER SPECS FOR ONPOINT’S NEW ADDITIONS TTC13S Tri-Axle Curtainsided Straight Frame: • EN12642XL Rated • Aerodynamic side guards • Front Aero Blimp with internal strap stowage • Aluminium alloy wheels

TTC23D Tri-Axle Curtainsided Double-Deck Step Frame: • ¾ fixed deck rated to 10,000kg • Wrap around rear curtain facility • Front aero dynamic blimp with strap stowage • Full LED lights with extra reversing lights for additional safety • Unique OnPoint/Palletforce curtain livery.

Operations extend throughout the UK and onto the European mainland.

The new curtainsided trailer fleet comprises straight-frame and new double-deck ‘tallboy’ trailers to coincide with OnPoint’s recent partnership with Palletforce embarking on operations throughout the UK and overseas.

“Tiger Trailers is a premium brand and the trailer products we now have in our fleet have been designed and manufactured to exacting standards,” adds Delaney. “The expertise and experience behind the Tiger brand appears to be a good indication of a high-quality product. Doubledeck operations are the clear and obvious solution to maximising volume-based loads, and the Tiger Trailers design suits our needs ideally.”

Trailer and commercial vehicle body manufacturer, Tiger Trailers, has moved into its new, £22 million manufacturing facility in Winsford, Cheshire. The relocation to the Winsford Industrial Estate coincides with rapid business growth, providing scope for production capacity to double in the next 12-months and signalling the creation of 200 new jobs.

The bespoke production plant and office complex is laid out over a 20-acre site comprising 168,000ft2 of state-of-the-art chassis fabrication, body assembly, paint and final finish facilities. Offices include a 3D engineering suite, a specialist training facility and a full height showroom – unique among UK trailer manufacturers. Design and construction of the new facility, which incorporates a host of energy-efficient systems, was completed in just 12 months.

“We’re buzzing with excitement,” says Joint Managing Director, John Cartwright. “The last 12-months have been a whirlwind of anticipation. Tiger Trailers is building a strong brand in the industry and our new home will allow us to take the business to the next level, by developing an enhanced product portfolio and an even better customer experience.

“We’re especially pleased to be generating employment opportunities and we have attracted many new employees to the new site, with our dedicated training centre providing an invaluable introduction for newcomers to the business,” he adds.

Key manufacturing appointments have also been made recently, implemented to maximise business growth, including Nathan Owen, General Manufacturing Manager, and new Manufacturing Director, Richard Else, a highly rated automotive industry professional bringing a wealth of experience from Jaguar Land Rover and McLaren Automotive.

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FINANCE

THE ROAD TO REPLACEMENTS Forthcoming legislation and clean air zones will have an impact on many operators and their fleets. DAF is looking to reduce these issues as much as possible Words: Steve Banner

M

ore and more cities around the country are planning to introduce zones, that impose emission restrictions, on trucks that enter them. Anything that is not Euro 6 may attract a penalty charge. This situation puts operators who deliver goods in the areas – and run Euro 5 trucks – in a difficult situation. They either pay the charge and swallow the cost themselves, eating into already-tight profit margins, or pass it on to the customer and risk losing business.

The alternative is to rid themselves of their Euro 5 models and acquire Euro 6 replacements instead. Even if they buy used, that can work out expensive.

Furthermore, the roll-out of Clean Air Zones and similar arrangements, mean that the Euro 5 trucks they do have are likely to be worth a lot less than they expected them to be when first acquired; and the demand for second-hand Euro 6 vehicles is driving up their prices in turn.

Which way to turn?

As a consequence, a large gap has opened up between the part-exchange value of a Euro 5 and the cost of the used Euro 6 needed to replace it.

“Euro 5 values have dropped off considerably over the last 18 months,” confirms PACCAR Financial’s Residual Value Manager, Andrew Horswill. The

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

Photographs: DAF Trucks

good news is that DAF and its comprehensive network of dealers, can help hard-pressed hauliers square the circle with suitable vehicles and finance packages, that should ease the pain considerably.

“The gap can be bridged,” says Paul Young, DAF’s Regional Asset Manager for the UK, Ireland and export. He is nevertheless realistic about the challenge hauliers face. “If you take a pair of 14-plate XF 460 Space Cab 6x2 tractor units - one Euro 5 and the other one Euro 6 - then the latter is likely to cost you 50% more than the former,” says Young. “At one stage, recently, you could get two used Euro 5 units for the price of one used Euro 6,” adds Horswill.

Acquire a second-hand Euro 6 unit - one that is three years old for instance - through a DAF dealer however and you can spread the cost burden by funding it over five years under an HP agreement arranged through PACCAR Financial; DAF’s own finance operation. Nor is there a shortage of such units, says Young. “You should be able to obtain a Euro 6 XF Space or Super Space Cab reasonably easily,” he says. “There aren’t so many CFs around admittedly, but that’s more of a reflection of the number sold new to begin with, than anything else.”

Approved used The vehicle may also be covered by DAF’s First Choice approved used package, which includes a comprehensive 12-month factory-backed

FINANCE

warranty - not one that is insurance-backed and sourced from a third-party provider, Young stresses. “We give First Choice trucks the same level of protection that one of our new used trucks receives,” he states.

The used vehicle concerned will have undergone and passed a 200-point check, be no more than four years old, and will have covered no more than 500,000km. It will have a full service history plus a current test certificate.

All DAF dealers participate in the First Choice programme. Trucks that are four to five years old will be supported by a 12-month factorybacked driveline-only warranty and will have clocked up no more than 600,000km. That means they remain highly-desirable.

Euro 6 rigids are admittedly less plentiful transport companies tend to hang on to them for longer than they do tractor units - but are still available, says Young. “My advice is that if you see a used Euro 6 rigid at a DAF dealership and it’s the sort you’re looking for, then snap it up quickly if you possibly can. We get some ex-contract rigids coming back to us, but not as many as we would like, because they tend to be acquired outright by the operator under an HP agreement rather than leased.”

Time to remain calm Young stresses there is no need to panic. While the London Ultra Low Emission Zone was on the verge of being triggered at the time of writing, there is still another 12 to 18 months to go before most of the other emission zones come into force. That means you still have a bit of time to plan ahead, and planning ahead is going to be essential, if you will be going in and out of a restricted zone.

All this news is positive for hauliers who already own Euro 6 DAFs. They are likely to fetch more than they expected should they choose to dispose of them; and the popularity of the market-leading DAF brand, plus its all-embracing UK-wide network, means there should be no shortage of willing buyers. “Euro 6 rigids especially, are fetching premium prices, so you may be able to afford to replace them with new ones,” Young suggests. “DAF dealers are offering good part-exchange deals.”

Not that Euro 5s are an entirely lost cause - far from it. Export markets are a challenge for all manufacturers, but there is still a demand for right-hand-drive Euro 5 DAFs in the Republic of Ireland and in certain countries in the Far East; a tribute to the brand’s strong global reputation. “Models up to six or seven years old could certainly be ripe for export,” Young maintains.

AT ONE STAGE RECENTLY YOU COULD GET TWO USED EURO 5 UNITS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE USED EURO 6 Left: Andrew Horswill, PACCAR Financial’s Residual Value Manager

There is some demand for them in Africa, too.

That is despite the fact that rising investment in infrastructure by China, is promoting an increasing number of hauliers to buy new Chinese trucks, rather than second-hand ones sourced from European suppliers.

On the market Returning to the UK, while local emission restrictions are certainly getting tougher, there are large swathes of the country where Euro 5 trucks can be operated without incurring a penalty. “Lower-mileage examples in particular are continuing to sell,” Young says. “Remember though, that environmental standards are tightening up everywhere, and I’m not just talking about the requirements of low-emission zones,” adds Horswill. “A lot of it is about how you as an operator want to be viewed by your customers.”

Many of them will want you to demonstrate that you are environmentally-aware. That means investing in vehicles with the latest emission control technology; and that means opting for Euro 6.

Below: While new Euro 6 trucks may be out of reach for operators, there are plenty of used examples to choose from

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COVER STORY

LIVING THE DREAM As a schoolboy, all Callum Price-Jones wanted to do was work in haulage and drive a truck. During the nine years since he left school, he’s achieved his goals Words: Matthew Eisenegger

T

Grandfather, Arnold, is still a key figure in the business, but it is Callum who is looking ahead and planning for the future

he phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’, certainly applied to Callum PriceJones. With a grandfather by the name of Arnold Jones, who had started his own small haulage business back in 1979, it was maybe natural that Callum would inherit a love of big trucks. Arnold learned to drive in the Army and, having finished as a driver trainer, soon found work driving eightwheelers on steel deliveries to London for local operators, before starting on his own as Arnold Jones Haulage with tipping tankers. The company continues under the same name today, with Callum setting his sights on a long-term future both for himself and the business.

Fuelling those early schoolboy dreams were Callum’s childhood experiences.

Since he was old enough to walk, Callum could always be found wandering around the yard under the watchful eye of parents and grandparents. In addition and much to his joy - were regular trips in grandfather’s truck. After leaving school Callum started working full-time, loading, strapping and doing anything 16

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

Photographs: Karl Hopkinson

else that needed a spare pair of hands.

Talking about those early trips with his grandfather, he laughs. “I realise that I am now calling on builders and builders’ merchants who remember me in shorts, with granddad having to lift me up into his cab. It’s crazy when you think about it like that.” It has certainly been a meteoric rise …. from ‘dreaming’ schoolboy to hands-on driver.

A growing family business Transport is clearly a strong family calling. Callum’s father, Mark, joined the business as a driver, the day after passing his test at 21 in 1987. At that time, the company, based in Treuddyn, North Wales, was also running a brickworks.

This business was taken in lieu of unpaid haulage bills with the firm, for which

it had been carrying raw materials into the works as well as finished products out again. Sadly, the landlords - the Duke of Westminster Estates - had visions of new offices on the site, so didn’t renew the lease when it expired.

The Jones family was now reliant exclusively on haulage.

This wasn’t a problem though. Well-known for their work and standards, the family started buying bricks from another local company and carried on servicing their customers. Eventually that company was taken over by Edenhall - a growing manufacturer of concrete bricks that sold its products direct. Again, the family adapted, now carrying powdered raw materials into the Edenhall works and the new bricks coming out. The family was very solidly back in business. “It’s odd, because these days we’re calling on a lot of the customers I used to think of as ‘ours’,” says Callum. “Now though, our focus is to keep them just as happy as they were with us: that way Edenhall is happy and work rolls on for all of us.”

The way forward Callum passed his Class 1 Test in 2014 at

COVER STORY

The Arnold Jones business is 40 years old this year and the future looks bright for the next 40, with Callum at the helm

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COVER STORY

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

COVER STORY

FUELLING THOSE EARLY SCHOOLBOY DREAMS WERE CALLUM’S CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. SINCE HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO WALK, CALLUM COULD ALWAYS BE FOUND WANDERING AROUND THE YARD UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

18, just a day after completing his Driver CPC. He then went straight behind the wheel of a very tidy ERF ECX 14.525 that his grandfather had lovingly painted and prepared. “It was all ready to go, and so was I,” recalls Callum; he hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Callum is at the very heart of operations. Arnold is still involved, but it is Callum who wants to guide the business into the future. He has already taken over the planning work on the busy brick movements, is always looking for new work to fill any gaps and has recently added a DAF XF 530 to the fleet. Its driver, Kieran Wynn is delighted. “I had a Scania V8 560 manual before, which was a good truck, but this is a real treat,” he says.

“The cab’s comfortable, the performance is terrific and the 16-speed box is as smooth as silk. It’s also a great-looking truck out on the road, a real heard-turner.

What’s not to love?”

Until now, the company had a very fixed view of truck purchases. “We bought used Scanias from abroad,” says Callum.

“It means I’ve spent much of my driving life in left-hookers, but the extras the continentals put into their trucks made that a small price to pay. In fact, these days I prefer driving them.” The thing he doesn’t mention, but his eyes light up when brought up, is the power of the trucks. Right now, he drives a 730 Topliner, bought last year. “Oh yes,” he chuckles, “Gotta have power! I like seeing the hills coming up and, even at maximum weight, not having to think about how to handle them.”

Time for a change?

So could Callum see himself in a new DAF XF at some stage? “I don’t see why not, although I would have to spec it as a lefthand drive vehicle,” he says. “It would just feel wrong driving a right-hand drive truck now. And I would want maximum power - in fact, I ought to talk to DAF to see what might be coming along powerwise. I mean, there’s no doubt it’s one of the best-looking trucks on the road and everything is right about it. Well, perhaps not everything,” he ponders.

“A few more horses under the cab would work for me.”

In fact, he will almost certainly talk to local DAF dealer, Imperial Commercials at Wrexham. Callum has strong SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

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COVER STORY

A DAF XF 530 has recently been added to the Arnold Jones fleet, much to the delight of the driver

connections with friends who had worked at the dealership and with Stuart Cornish, the Regional Sales Manager.

It was Stuart who persuaded Callum to take the XF, a decision that has worked well for both parties. “I had been playing with the DAF online vehicle configurator and because so many people rated the Imperial back-up service, Granddad and I went along for a look,” he recalls. “You couldn’t really argue with the XF. It had the lot – looks, performance, economic operation and real driver comfort.”

Laughing, he adds: “Mind you, Granddad would still be buying Seddon Atkinsons if he could! He loves the old trucks - well, who doesn’t, if we’re honest? But even he admits the XF is a beautiful piece of work.

“In truth, we needed to think about our buying policy,” admits Callum, his business-head very firmly in charge now. “We’re being drawn more and more onto construction and other sites inside major cities, and it would be stupid not to consider the impacts of the growing Clean Air/LEZ lobbies. What we didn’t need was to be sitting there in older 20

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

high-power tractor units, paying hefty bills to access customers in those areas.

The new DAF gives us an immediate answer, and we will look at other opportunities to refresh the fleet before too long.”

Where next?

The family has always run a relatively small fleet, though has a very big reputation for reliability and performance.

So, as he gradually assumes more and more of the mantle of his grandfather in guiding the business forward, what does Callum see in the future?

“Well, as far as any of us can see into the future, I like to think it will be more of the same,” he says. “I know businesses can’t stand still, so I would like to build the volumes going forward, maybe get six or seven quality trucks on the road in Granddad’s colours and perhaps spread the customer base a little. What we won’t do is risk what my Granddad has built. We have a reputation for doing things properly and not letting customers down. Protecting that is our priority. Then, when we can do so

without risking that, we will add vehicles and new customers. Not until then though!”

For himself, Callum is taking on more and more of the day-to-day work and easing the load for his grandfather. “He has done so much for the business and for me,” he reflects. “Now is the time for me to step up and get on with it.”

He has obviously enjoyed it to date, so would Callum recommend the life to other youngsters? “This work is what you make it,” he states. “You can make it hard or easy, it’s up to you. What worries me for future generations though, is that the industry isn’t making it very easy to help interested youngsters get jobs. I hear everyone crying out for the drivers of the future and we could lose many of those we already have when the final shape of Brexit makes itself known.

Sadly, lots of operators, understandably in some respects, just want any backside on the driver’s seat. It’ so frustrating!

There’s a whole new generation out there, and they are not being given the chance.

“I know how lucky I was being born into this family,” he adds. “I am doing

COVER STORY

Arnold’s love for old trucks is clear to see in and around the company’s premises

a job I love in a family that supports and encourages me. As and when I get the chance, I will certainly look for drivers and others from the next generation and give them the chance they deserve.”

Below: Three generations of the Jones family have worked for the business

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CARS ON TEST

SECOND TIME PLUCKY The Range Rover Evoque is back for a second generation - having ruffled a few feathers with the traditionalists when the original car appeared in 2011 Words: Alisdair Suttie

N

o other car from Land Rover has divided opinion as much as the Range Rover Evoque. From the styling to the frontwheel drive biased dynamics, it repelled the die-hards as quickly as it drew in the dyed-hairs. Now we have the Evoque mk II and, other than a few detail bits, it’s all-new from the ground up.

Does that mean Land Rover has reverted back to its traditional customer base or speared off in an entirely new direction? No, is the short

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Photographs: Land Rover

answer, and to explain a bit more all we need say is the first Evoque sold more than 750,000 in its seven-year life. That’s good business and Land Rover needs as much of that as it can lay its mitts on now the world has changed so much from when the first Evoque was introduced.

For starters, there’s a whole heap more competition in the chi-chi compact SUV market nowadays. Also, diesel isn’t the fuel of choice for many anymore and any SUV maker worth their environmentallysourced pink salt has an electrified version somewhere in the line-up.

Land Rover has this last

point covered with a mild hybrid set-up in the new Evoque that uses brake regeneration to pump a bit of power back to the wheels under acceleration. However, we’ll have to wait till 2020 for a plug-in hybrid model and there’s no word as yet about a fully electric version.

In the meantime, there’s a choice of petrol and turbodiesel engines, all four-cylinder 2-litre units.

There will be three-cylinder motors next year that promise improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. For business users, these smaller engines can’t come soon enough given the

range at launch musters a best of 143g/km.

On the road All but the entry-point D150 diesel Evoque come with a nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard. It’s an easy gearbox to get along with as it passes from one gear to the next with no discernible interruption in smoothness.

However, trying the higher powered P300 petrol and D240 diesel models, the Evoque doesn’t feel quite as zesty off the mark or when asked to overtake as some rivals, such as an Audi Q3 or BMW X3. Much of this is down to the Range Rover’s

CARS ON TEST

More than 750,00 first-gen Evoques were sold and Land Rover is looking to surpass that with the new car

THE SECOND-GENERATION EVOQUE IS ALL-NEW, APART FROM A FEW COMPONENTS 1,900kg kerb weight, which is a consequence of using more steel than aluminium in its construction.

The reason Land Rover has erred more towards steel than lighter alloys is to save cabin space. You need more complicated shapes with aluminium to ensure rigidity, but Land Rover wanted to keep the Evoque as compact on the outside as possible while freeing up more cabin room. This goal has been achieved, but at the expense of some dynamic ability.

Still, this Evoque is a mere 1mm longer and 4mm wider than its predecessor, so it skips through city streets

There is more interior space for the driver and passengers. Plenty of storage options, too

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CARS ON TEST owners want. In the back, there’s a shade more space in every direction for occupants, though three abreast is still a squish. As for the boot, it’s big enough for most needs and the rear seat splits 40:20:40 should you need to carry longer loads.

The small SUV market is competitive with Evoque’s main rivals likely to be the BMW X3 and Audi Q3

in a way many other SUVs cannot. Where tightly packed roads can be a pain in the bollards for some 4x4s, the Evoque is a cinch to use and park. Given this is the natural environment for many Evoque owners, Land Rover has judged the choice of compactness over weight saving well.

Interior exploration More space inside is another 24

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

welcome trait as the previous Evoque could feel a little claustrophobic. This one has an airier atmosphere, helped by the clean-cut lines of the dash that uses three screens, although the entrylevel version makes do with only two and plain rotary controls for the ventilation.

The effect of the screens is to create a classy, modern cabin that’s right up there with the big brother Velar for feel-

good factor.

There’s ample room around the driver and front passenger, plenty of places to stash phones, wallets and charging cables. There is also the expected high-set driving position that SUV

Stiff competition However many people or suitcases you carry, you won’t be able to get away from the firm ride of the Evoque. For a car with city driving as a major part of its brief, the ride is just too brittle over most ridges and ripples.

Swapping to smaller wheels than the 21in on cars we’ve tried will certainly help, but there’s an underlying stiffness to contain body lean in bends. We’d happily trade a little cornering lean for more supple progress along fractured tarmac surfaces.

When the Evoque does reach a corner, it doesn’t tip much on its suspension. It also offers lots of traction and decent steering feel for this class of car. That’s all backed up by Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 off-road system that tailors the car’s fourwheel drive to the conditions.

It works brilliantly and this Evoque can tackle much more than you’d be prepared to, if you have even the slightest sympathy for the bodywork or underside. It can also stride through 600mm of water, which is way more than the opposition.

Which leads us to the conclusion this second generation Evoque is certainly an improvement over its predecessor and more able off-road than its competitors.

On-road, the Land Rover is now no better than most rivals, but not even the diehards will worry about that given its looks and cabin ambience.

1

Chester Motorway Service Area

2

Stafford South

3

M27 Rownhams Services Southbound

4

Strensham Services

5

Tibshelf

6

Taunton Deane Services Northbound

7

Taunton Deane Services Southbound

- M56 J14, Elton, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 4QZ*

- M6 S.bound, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0EU*

- Between J3 & J4, Southampton, SO16 8AP*

- M5 N.bound, Hill Croome, Worcestershire, WR8 0BZ*

- M1 N.bound between J28 & J29, Derbyshire, DE55 5TZ*

- M5 between J25 & J26, Taunton, TA3 7PF

- M5 between J25 & J26, Taunton, TA3 7PF

* Site is located in the truckpark area

£18.00

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Alloys

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Rigid Box <17 Tonne

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£29.00

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Rigid Tanker

Unit only

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Prices from 1st January 2019 / Please phone Gary Taylor on 07970 842 423 to discuss special deals on large fleets

No cash, no receipts, just a vehicle registration number.

UK Truck Clean is an independent member of the Euro Truckwash Network. We accept all fuel cards and credit cards above. Greenox is on trial at Chester only (planned for other sites).

UK Truck Clean are proud members of SNAP Account, a comprehensive cashless payment system for the haulage industry.

Call +44 (0)1603 777242 or visit snapacc.com for more information.

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UK Truck Clean Ltd., 4 Linden Close, Lymm, WA13 9PH

07970 842 423 | uktruckclean.com

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TEAM BRIT Team BRIT was founded

by Dave Player in 2015 to give an opportunity to disabled drivers

TRUE BRIT

Behind the scenes at Team BRIT, which has recently won backing from DAF Trucks and the DAF Dealer network Words: John Challen

D

espite the growing popularity with electric vehicles and the desires of drivers to save as much fuel as possible when behind their ICE-powered vehicle, the world still loves motorsport.

From Formula 1 down to small-scale karting venues, the public cannot get enough of four- (or sometimes two) wheeled racing. As a result of this popularity, the opportunities to get involved – either as a spectator or

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Photographs: David Archer

participant are growing. One relatively new outfit in motorsport has been hailed ‘the most inspirational team in motorsport’. Team BRIT – the brainchild of Dave Player – offers opportunities to disabled drivers to get behind the wheel and feel the buzz of a racing environment.

Having gained years of experience in disability sport, Player founded KartForce in 2010 and subsequently setup Team BRIT as an opportunity for KartForce racers to compete against abled-bodied racers. Before suffering a spinal injury in

1991, Player served as a Royal Engineer in the Army from 1983 to 1988 and then joined the family real estate business in the Algarve. After his rehabilitation, Player set up his own businesses, all connected to sport, tourism and property, including those that managed international sporting events at European and Paralympic levels.

Living his life in a wheelchair from the age of 23, has given Player the opportunity to pass on a great deal of knowledge and guidance, to others in similar circumstances. For example, he designed

TEAM BRIT

In 2018, Team BRIT became the first-ever all disabled team to race on the Le Mans circuit during the Aston Martin Le Mans Festival

for professional development within motorsport as a whole, by teaching drivers the business of sponsorship, revenue generation and vocational training. There is also an emphasis on enhancing recovery and rehabilitation through intense and testing environments and through the adaptation of disability to different environments, and to inspire members of the disabled community through the demonstration of what can be achieved, in the face of adversity.

a set of hand controls that could fit any kart, allowing drivers with a wide variety of disabilities to compete on a level playing field with able-bodied drivers.

The core aims of the team have remained the same since its inception: to normalise disability; to rebuild confidence through competition and teamwork and to provide an opportunity

The rise of the team Many of the Team BRIT members are ex-military or serving troops who have sustained serious injuries and are disabled. The team is not a charity and believes it offers something that no other sport can, by not discriminating against any form of disability.

Since 2015, the team has matured and in 2017 raced in the Fun Cup series,

competing in identical-spec cars in endurance races ranging from four to eight hours. Team BRIT also took part in the Spa Francorchamps Race in Belgium, a 25-hour event, known as ‘the longest race in the world’.

In 2018, the team made history this year by being the first ever all-disabled team to race on the Le Mans circuit during the Aston Martin Le Mans Festival, held prior to the annual endurance race. The main aim for Team BRIT is to be the first-ever all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour.

For 2019, it has announced that it will participate in 116 Trophy - a one-make endurance series comprised of threehour races with 30 car grids of BMW E87 1.6, 5-speed cars, with light racing modifications.

Team BRIT will field two cars throughout the series but in an exciting development, will also be inviting guest drivers to join them, with the possibility of entering up to four teams per event.

DAF Trucks is supporting Team BRIT with the donation of a new XF 530 FT 4x2 tractor with Super Space Cab and race trailer

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TEAM BRIT

enjoyed competing in the Fun Cup for the past two years. The organisers and teams have all supported us so well and as a team, we have learnt a great deal.

“It’s time for us to make a change and the new 116 Trophy provides us with the opportunity for low budget racing in extremely reliable cars, meaning our drivers can get as much track time as possible which is essential for us as we move closer to our Le Mans target,” he says.

Team BRIT has entered the 116 Trophy endurance series this year

Alongside the team’s entry in the 116 Trophy, Team BRIT’s more experienced drivers will continue to race in its Aston

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Martin V8 Vantage GT4.

“2019 is set to be an extremely exciting year for us,” says Player. “We’ve really

DAF donation The Team BRIT story – and the level of determination in overcoming barriers – caught the attention of DAF Trucks and its DAF Dealer network, which has supported it with the donation of a new XF 530 FT 4x2 tractor with Super Space Cab and race trailer.

The trailer – a collaborative donation

by DAF Trucks and its UK network of DAF sales dealerships – was unveiled at Silverstone last year, during one round of

TEAM BRIT

Many Team BRIT drivers are ex-military or serving troops who have sustained serious injuries

the Fun Cup Championship. The vehicle is decked in Team BRIT livery featuring the team’s Aston Martin racing car which, together with its Fun Cup cars,

will be transported to events in the UK and overseas.

“On behalf of our DAF Dealer network, we’re only too happy to be helping Team BRIT with its logistics operations,” said DAF Trucks’ head of marketing, Phil Moon at the unveiling. “We have commercial partnerships with a select few motorsport teams and we recognise an outfit with the right credentials when we see one. We are extremely impressed with Team BRIT’s dedication to helping disabled racing and this was big draw for us.

“Team BRIT’s profile is on the rise and we’re looking forward to accompanying it on the journey,” added Moon.

“We still can’t quite believe that we have a vehicle as impressive as this.

The truck and trailer provide us with the superior quality transportation equipment we need to help us move our cars and our kit safely and securely,” admits Player. “Having our branding and the images of our cars proudly displayed across the trailer is just incredible and makes such an impact. It will be a real head turner, which will help to spread our message far and wide. We need people to know who we are and what we do, so that together we can make a real impact on motorsport.

“I am so incredibly grateful to everyone at DAF Trucks for choosing to get behind us. We look forward to continuing our journey to Le Mans with their support,” he adds.

Team BRIT is a close-knit family

TEXACO HAVOLINE HELPS TEAM BRIT KEEP GOING Alongside DAF Trucks, Chevron Lubricants, which markets the Texaco Havoline brand in Europe, has also pledged its support to Team BRIT. Providing engine lubricants and fluids, Texaco Havoline is delighted to help Team BRIT keep going on the race track this season, with a steady supply of high performance engine oils and coolants for use in its Aston Martin V8, Vantage GT4 and BMW. “We are overwhlemed by Team BRIT’s drive to ‘keep going’ in the pursuit of their dream, taking on one of the toughest endurance races out there. Their determination and commitment is inspiring beyond measure and Texaco Havoline could not be happier to support them in their bid to race at Le Mans. Our products are renowned for going the extra mile, much like Team BRIT,” says James Welchman, Manager Marketing, Chevron Lubricants EMEA. “Having the support of major automotive brands such as Texaco Havoline means such a lot to us and shows the world just how serious we are,” says Dave Player. “With global brands getting behind us, we’re able to provide our drivers and crew with the equipment they need to stay competitive. We’re delighted to have Texaco Havoline on board for the 2019 season and are extremely grateful for their support.”

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TEAM BRIT

Since 2017, Team BRIT has raced in the Fun Cup series

Academy hopes One of the other achievements made by Team BRIT is the launch of the UK’s first disabled racing academy, which took place in March.

The launch event was supported by disabled racing driver Nicolas Hamilton, who was the first disabled driver to race in the British Touring Car Championship. Along with Team BRIT’s drivers, he demonstrated the team’s world leading hand controls to the press and invited guests.

A group of injured troops from the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall attended the launch and were treated to hot laps around the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey where Team BRIT has its workshop. They have also been invited to attend a karting event through Team BRIT’s linked charity, Kartforce, and one of the patients may be looking to join the team’s crew as its HGV driver.

“You can never underestimate the importance of opportunities like this for our injured service personnel,” Military Liaison Officer, Brian Dent said. “The benefits are enormous, providing a much needed boost and increasing motivation during the arduous and lengthy period of rehabilitation. Each and every one of our patients have their own personal stories

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of their journey through rehabilitation.

However, they all share one common goal as they climb the rehabilitation mountain and that is maximising their potential for their future. From some that may mean sporting and professional achievements, for others it is simply to be able to live independently or be able to support their families.”

There are many chapters ready to be written in the Team BRIT story and DAF Trucks looks forward to being a part of it.

THE CORE AIMS OF THE TEAM HAVE REMAINED THE SAME SINCE ITS INCEPTION: TO NORMALISE DISABILITY Team BRIT is proud to be supported by patrons Damon Hill OBE, Johnny Herbert and Dave Henson MBE. To discuss partnership opportunities with Team BRIT, contact Mike Scudamore on 07787 546 095 or email mike.scudamore@ apexsportsmarketing.com

Members of Team BRIT pose for the cameras

TEAM BRIT

The futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright for Team BRIT

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

BOTH BARRELS BLAZING Royal Enfield blasts back into the motorcycle market with traditional-looking ‘British’ twins, built in India Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 has all the style and none of the pain of traditional British motorcycles

Words: Richard Simpson

A

sk anyone what the oldest established motorcycle manufacturer is and the answer will probably be HarleyDavidson of the USA. Knowledgeable motorcyclists may say Husqvarna (Sweden, Italy and now Austria), but the correct answer is Royal Enfield (UK and India).

Named after the Royal Arms Factory in Enfield, Royal Enfield was initially a supplier of gun parts in the West Midlands. By 1886, it was making bicycles and the first motorcycles followed in 1901 - two years ahead of the foundation of Harley-Davidson and the start of motorcycle production by Husqvarna.

In the 1950s, the Indian Government sought a simple, rugged motorcycle for frontier patrol duties that could be built locally. Royal Enfield had started by selling them its 350cc Bullet single in kits for local assembly, before transferring all the tooling for this by now antiquated

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Photographs: Royal Enfield & Wiki Commons

device for local production, by the newlyformed Enfield of India company in 1962.

Back in Blighty, Royal Enfield had a fight on its hands. The launch of the Mini had destroyed much of the motorcycle market and the first Honda motorcycles had appeared on UK roads in the early 1960s, offering quality and reliability hitherto unknown to British riders.

Royal Enfield responded with what was a revolution for British industrial practice of the time - it asked its own apprentices to come up with a design that would have youth appeal. The result was the Continental GT 250, a learner-legal racer look-alike with the first five-speed gearbox to grace a British-made road bike. Pretty, it undoubtedly was, but it was also deeply flawed, thanks to an overtuned engine and that innovative, underdeveloped gearbox. It did little for Royal Enfield other than keep the warranty department in overtime.

A tough period Japanese bikes got bigger and better.

Honda went from 250 to 450cc twins and then, in 1968, turned the motorcycling world on its head with the launch of a 750cc four-cylinder machine.

British manufacturers responded, badly. Engines that had been pleasant and reliable as 500 twins had already been made less pleasant, more unreliable and only slightly faster by increasing their capacity to 650cc. Now the tired designs were stretched even further: 700, 750, and 850cc, compounding many of the problems that had already turned British riders into customers for Japan.

Royal Enfield bowed out in 1970, with a final batch of 750cc Interceptor twin engines supplied to British specialist bike-builder Rickman.

The Fightback But it wasn’t the end. Not even the beginning of the end. Because Enfield of India was still churning out Bullets – not just for the Government but also for civilians who were cut off from more modern designs by import controls.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

The passage of time had given the Bullet a nostalgic appeal. By the late 1970s, small quantities of Indian-made Bullets were being imported to the UK and it was a market that grew steadily, not least because the value of original British classics was rising steeply.

Enfield was still under-capitalised though, and struggling to build the Bullet to modern standards. All that changed in 1994 when the company was acquired by Eicher - a giant of the fast-growing Indian automotive industry. A capital injection of £52 million has enabled Royal Enfield to open technology centres in England and India - and its UK involvement extended to the 2015 acquisition of legendary British motorcycle frame builder Harris Performance.

The all-new Royal Enfield 650 twins are the first fruits of this investment.

Royal Enfield riding impressions I enjoyed a brief ride on a 650 Interceptor courtesy of the friendly folk at North Cornwall Motorcycles in Bude. It’s an effective recreation of the best of the ‘true’ British twin-cylinder bikes, but

with none of the woes.

The engine itself looks ‘British’ - highly polished ally end-covers and rough cast crankcases, with not a coat of lacquer to be seen. The rest of the bike follows suit: it looks more like a classic Brit than the modern (Thai-built) Triumph twins do.

It starts easily ‘on the button’ without any of the classic rituals. there’s no kickstarter and no need to tickle the carbs. In fact there are no carbs, just fuss-free fuel injection. The exhaust note is like that of an old-school Brit bike, but the tempo is different, and more like a V-twin.

And there’s a very good reason for that, which emerges as soon as you ride away.

There’s no vibration - none felt, none blurring the mirrors and certainly none spinning nuts and bolts undone.

The smoothness is down to the clever engine design. Traditional Brit bikes had a 360° crankshaft, pistons rising and falling in shaky unison. Japanese vertical twins got rid of the worst of the vibration with a 180° crank and a balance-shaft, but there was still a high-frequency buzz. The Enfield has a 270° crank and a balance-shaft, which mimics the smooth power-delivery of a V-twin, while

Continental GT 650‘s riding position is ideally suited to open roads

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

THE EXHAUST NOTE IS LIKE THAT OF AN OLD-SCHOOL BRIT BIKE, BUT THE TEMPO IS DIFFERENT, AND MORE LIKE A V-TWIN retaining the classic Brit look. Win, win!

Throttle, clutch and gearchange are light and positive, with easy clutchless upward shifts. Handling is good, as you might expect given the Harris input.

Well, as good as can be from a chassis which uses a 1970s-style double-cradle tubular frame, twin rear shock absorbers and low-tech conventional front forks, together with 18in wire-spoke wheels.

It provides a reassuring, predictable and agile ride, but the budget suspension would eventually become overwhelmed if you pushed hard on a bumpy road.

There’s plenty of warning given though: the bike will make its unhappiness known long before there is any risk of 34

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loss of control.

Brakes are modelled on Brembo calipers that were state-of-the art in the 1970s. They won’t surprise anyone with their performance today, but are more than adequate for the bike, and their bite is moderated by simple Bosch two-channel ABS. The 18in wheels, shod with 1970s-pattern Pirelli Phantom tyres reengineered with modern materials, help the ‘classic’ look but, combined with a low seat, it means that there really isn’t much room for rear suspension travel and what there is (just 88mm) could be better controlled. It’s not a huge issue though. Not least because there will soon

be UK aftermarket suspension companies producing better fork-springs and rear shocks.

The upright riding position doesn’t help. Motocross-style handlebars contribute to front-end twitchiness, and the footrests are a little too far apart, combining with the narrow tank to give a potentially hip-aching knockknee set to the legs. This setup is only a problem with the Interceptor, though.

Its café-racer Continental GT sister leans you slightly forward and puts your feet further back and closer together. For all but slow rides around town, it’s the more comfortable option.

And that’s really all that’s wrong

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

The original Royal Enfield Interceptor 750

The ill-fated Continental GT 250

with the bike. With 47bhp on tap, performance is pretty much identical to the British bikes of the 1960s and 70s that inspired it, but without the self-destructive vibrations. Fuel economy should be good too: it’s an important factor in Royal Enfield’s Indian home market and helped by a six-speed gearbox.

Fit, finish and paint all appear of excellent quality, and between the Interceptor and the Continental GT there are no fewer than 11 colourschemes to choose from, so there should be something to appeal to everyone.

For the money (£5,295), it’s not just a good bike, it’s a great bike!

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OPERATOR PROFILE

MCLAUGHLAN: IN OUR DRIVERS WE TRUST George McLaughlan is a shining example of what makes the transport industry great.

A hard-working, visionary man with more than enough common sense to make sure the business he started over 40 years ago is fit for next 40 years; including an Employee Trust through which drivers share in the company’s success!

Reprinted by kind permission of Trucking magazine

S

ome 43-years ago, a young George McLaughlan was busy selling Ford trucks for the Frew & Co. dealership in Perth. In fact, in the days when such things were ‘required’ of Ford truck dealers, he had actually started as a Ford trainee salesman while at school, doing an hour after school on weekdays and four hours on Saturday. Later, now

George McLaughlan started out selling Ford trucks, but always wondered if he could run a transport business

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employed full-time, he was doing very well but, being a quietly observant man, he was also watching the customers he was helping and wondering if he could ever join them.

“I couldn’t help myself,” McLaughlan recalls. “They were my customers and it was important to me that they were successful.

So, I found myself watching and noting the things the best ones did that perhaps the less successful ones didn’t.”

It was a process that was to stand him in good stead when, a year or so later, the dealership’s Ford Transcontinental demonstrator came up for sale. “I’d been thinking about trying my hand as an operator for a while and I had spent a long time saving money, drawing up a work plan and cash-flow forecast. When the truck came up, I was able to put down the deposit and get the rest from the bank.” With typical Scots canniness, he

OPERATOR PROFILE

The McLaughlan Transport fleet is predominantly DAF, the latest additions being eight XFs with Super Space Cabs. BELOW RIGHT: where it all began with the mighty Ford Transcontinental

adds: “I didn’t like being in debt, so it is something I have steered away from as we’ve grown.”

The first three years were all about hard work, with McLaughlan working on his own to get the business off the ground.

“I’d seen too many people grow too fast.

They’d start off with one truck, then two a few months later and then, within a couple of years, six or more,” he recalls.

But a few months after that they had nothing! They’d lost their own homes, their parents’ homes and everything they owned to pay off the banks when the work didn’t come in fast enough. I just ploughed my own furrow, going forward as and when I could afford to.”

A focus on food… and people When he started with his Transcontinental and a flatbed trailer, McLaughlan decided to focus on the food industry. The area is still a major growing area and he went out of his way to chat to growers, agents and others.

He also kept his eyes on what other hauliers were doing. “There were a lot more flatbeds in those days so you’d

often see what was being carried, and fruit and veg was a mainstay,” says McLaughlan. “Mind you, it was hard work back then. We had to hand-load virtually everything; if you were carrying potatoes, you’d load bales of straw first to keep them in place and protect them from frost and the like, and then you had to rope-and-sheet the whole load.

Still, however tough it was, I always kept hold of the thought that if I did well for customers, the business could only grow. People always need to eat, so I stayed largely with food producers and, as I slowly added trucks, we focused on customer service.”

That attitude hasn’t changed. Today, the largely temperature-controlled McLaughlan Transport fleet numbers some 35 trucks – predominantly DAFs – and 50 trailers. The latest additions are eight XFs, a mixture of 480bhp and 530bhp six-wheel tractors all with Super Space Cabs and an equipment level to deliver a few ‘home comforts’ for drivers. TraXon automated gearboxes are also specified to further make drivers’ lives less stressful.

The fleet operates across the UK, as well

as making forays into mainland Europe, as far across as Greece. “We’re largely UK focussed, but with quality trucks and experienced drivers, we can go where customers need us,” says McLaughlan.

“It’s not a problem.”

Cash for the lads As with any operator, drivers are an important part of the equation for the business. McLaughlan has some who have been with him for over 20 years, but that’s no surprise. Apart from giving them the best tools for the job, the latest DAF XFs are a clear indication of this, he has his own unique way of making them part of the business.

Some time ago, he set up The McLaughlan Trust, through which drivers have a share in the business. “In a way I suppose that makes them all owner drivers! They have a share in the business so get extra rewards when we are successful – but doing it this way, they don’t have to buy their own trucks and worry about all the pressure that brings,” he says. “They can focus on driving safely and efficiently and making sure SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

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OPERATOR PROFILE

customers get the very best service.”

In these times of driver shortages, it’s a long-sighted scheme that offers clear benefits for all involved.

McLaughlan also has support from immediate family, in the shape of his son, Daniel and brother, Gerald. The latter has been with the firm for about 15-years on the administrative side, having trained initially as an accountant.

Daniel runs the engineering side of the business, managing the in-house workshops and fleet maintenance. “My son has the transport business in his blood, but he is far better than I ever was about making time for his family and having a proper work-life balance. He’s not making the mistakes I did, and that’s no bad thing.”

Buying quality With over 40-years in the business, McLaughlan has seen his fair share of changes, most of which he says are for the better. “Everything is a lot easier nowadays. In temperature controlled

THE FIRST THREE YEARS WERE ALL ABOUT HARD WORK, WITH MCLAUGHLAN WORKING ON HIS OWN TO GET THE BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND movements you have fully refrigerated kit, and so long as you buy quality and maintain it well, you can almost load it and forget it. No more bales of straw to keep things covered!” he says.

McLaughlan has a mixed fleet of premium vehicles, with over 60% of it DAF. The operator runs new trucks longer than some companies might - up to eight years - but with its own workshop it can ensure they remain in tip-top condition throughout their firstlife in McLaughlan livery. “DAFs are not the cheapest, but they are certainly not 38

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the most expensive,” he declares. “What they definitely are though, is great value for money. Our local dealer salesman, Alan Gillespie, keeps us up-to-date with any developments of interest, but he doesn’t make a nuisance of himself. He sold us our first DAF in early 2011 and now he simply tells us what is available and what is possible, then lets us make our minds up. We buy the DAFs with two-years’ R&M and maintain them ourselves after that, with Lothian DAF helping with parts and any special tools.”

Looking forward elsewhere, McLaughlan cites telematics and the growth in fleet management information as one of the major advances for the business. With the growth of just-intime deliveries over the years, even simple ‘track & trace’ makes it easier for him to keep customers informed.

Being the man he is though, McLaughlan has invested in systems that give him all the vehicle and driver performance information he needs to keep the fleet running smoothly. Not an easy job with growing congestion across the UK. “Even Perth has its moments of congestion these days, but parts of the UK are almost impassable at times,” he rightly points out. “When customers are expecting deliveries, that becomes a real problem, so you must plan and work your way round it - that’s where telematics and good driver communication can make all the difference.”

A word of warning As a determinedly self-sufficient businessman, what did McLaughlan make of the almost weekly announcements of amalgamations and takeovers leading to ever-bigger transport and logistics companies? “It’s natural, but it can’t be without its problems. In my business, while we know people will always have to eat, so the food sector should be relatively consistent, it will fluctuate. When that happens, a smaller business can adapt quite quickly to match conditions. The new breed of giants though, they will still have their share-holders to satisfy, and if they are over-geared, the fluctuations might be harder for them to cope with long term.”

Brexit was inevitably another topic of interest. How did he view that? “My own opinion is that it is not necessarily the best way forward for the country.

Prices could rise, and people might find themselves paying a little more for food because of rising fuel and other transport costs. The truth is, nobody knows. Whatever comes, we will just have to get on with it and make the best of it; it’s what the British do best! From a transport point of view, it’s all relative to the rest of the economy anyway. I shall plan for what I think might be coming, and then deal with it when it arrives. For now though, it’s business as usual!”

With McLaughlan at the helm, and family supporting him, ‘business as usual’ looks like a pretty good deal – for customers and everyone involved at McLaughlan Transport!

Having been in and around trucks for nearly 50 years, McLaughlan has seen a lot of changes

OPERATOR PROFILE

Based in Scotland, the McLaughlan fleet operates all over Europe, as far afield as Greece

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TRAILER CARE

A GUIDE TO SAFE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING While coupling and uncoupling is something we might almost take for granted, it is also one of the most important and potentially dangerous tasks in the industry. A lapse in concentration or trying to take a shortcut can lead to a fatality or serious injury. We have teamed up with Tiger Trailers and along with some input from the driving community, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed a simple guide to coupling and uncoupling a trailer to keep you safe.

Photographs: DAF Trucks

THE UNCOUPLING PROCESS

Words: DAF Trucks

1

Park on firm, level ground before selecting neutral, switching off the ignition and removing the keys

2

3

Before lowering the landing legs check the ground and use suitable pads to support the trailer and prevent it from sinking 40

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4

TRAILER CARE

C 5

Remove the dog clip and release the fifth wheel

oupling and uncoupling, something that an artic driver will do many times a day. But are you doing it right, or have you inherited any bad habits over the years? Instead of teaching you all how to suck eggs, we wanted to find out your best practices for coupling and uncoupling. We asked followers of the @DAFTrucksUK social media pages for their top tips when hitching up to a trailer, here are just a few of our favourites: “BLACK for dropping, BLACK backwards for coupling: Brakes; Legs; Airlines; Clip; Kingpin. And remember number plate at the end,” says James Whyte.

Meanwhile, Craig Burrows Buzz reckons he has a fail-safe formula: “Start at the front and work your way to the back!

Couple, clip, lines, legs, tyres and lights.

Then when dropping trailer do it in reverse to check it’s all ok when you leave it for next driver.”

Finally, David Duncan adopts a unique

technique we wouldn’t necessarily recommend, ‘RAG’ approach: “Ram under it; Attach everything; Get on your way!”

A number pointed out that correct use of the tractor air suspension makes lead-ups unnecessary, but a common theme was to use a routine that works and stick to it. If you get distracted part way through, start over to make sure you don’t miss anything.

To help check your routine covers what’s needed, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to coupling and uncoupling.

On a serious note, there are unfortunately many incidents that have led to deaths and serious injuries that can be attributed to a failure to follow a safe procedure, when coupling or uncoupling. Never mind the damage to a trailer or tractor, that can be costly and lead to unnecessary delays. Investigations by the Health & Safety Executive show that in many cases, the driver has not followed the correct procedure and in other cases, employers who have not issued the appropriate guidance for coupling and uncoupling, have also been prosecuted.

6

7

8

Dont forget the number plate

Pull forward slightly before lowering the suspension

Stop and lower the suspension until the fifth wheel is clear

9

10

11

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TRAILER CARE

THE ‘NO-NOS’ OF COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING

THE COUPLING PROCESS

⊲ Do not rely on the automatic application of the brakes, caused by releasing the red air line, as the parking brake. ⊲ Do not park trailers on soft ground, or on any slope. ⊲ Do not park a trailer where access to the front is restricted. ⊲ Do not leave the keys in the ignition when you are out of the cab. ⊲ Do not forget the number plate.

1

2

3

Reverse to the front of the trailer and stop just short

Make sure to engage neutral and switch off the ignition before leaving the cab

Apply the trailer parking brake. Chock the wheels on loose or uneven surfaces

7

8

9

Raise the suspension until...

...the fifth wheel is flat against the rubbing plate and starts to take the weight of the trailer

Reverse slowly until the fifthwheel engages with the kingpin

13

14

15

Raise the suspension

Raise the landing legs and stow the handle

Fit the number plate

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TRAILER CARE

MAKE SURE TO CHECK... â&#x160;˛ Sliding Fifth Wheels are locked into position, before reversing under the trailer, and that they are correctly positioned to clear the cab, whilst minimising the tractor trailer gap. â&#x160;˛ Adjustable roof spoilers are set to match the trailer.

4

5

6

Check the fifth wheel is fully open

Lower the air suspension

Reverse under the front of the trailer

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11

12

Engage tortoise mode and perform a pull test

Engage neutral, switch the engine off, take the keys out of the ignition then check the fifth wheel locking handle has gone home. Insert the dog clip

Connect the air and electrical suzies

16

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18

Check the lights

Carry out a walk around inspection, checking lights, tyres, wheel nuts, side marker and marker boards. Finally, make sure the height indicator is set

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MEET THE TRAINERS Neil Armstrong, DAF Dealer Driver Trainer at Solway DAF, Carlisle

NEIL ARMSTRONG

DAF now has Dealer Driver Trainers based across the country to help hand over new and used vehicles and we thought it would be good to get to know some of them a little bit better. In this edition we talk to Neil Armstrong the DAF Dealer Driver Trainer for Solway DAF in Carlisle Q What did you want to be when you were at school?

A I went to school in Longtown near Carlisle, just down the road from where my family’s company have their main yard. When I was at school all I wanted to do was spend every weekend in trucks - I started driving them around the yard and washing them at a very young age.

My gran used to say she could see trucks moving and it looked like no-one was in them until I jumped out! I spent a lot of time with my Granddad, who recently passed away. He was the man I wanted to be when I grew up; he had the respect of everyone who worked for him and everyone who knew him. He was tough but fair and I felt the hard side of his hand 44

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many a time in what he would call ‘keeping me in check’. I probably needed it!

Q When did you first join Solway DAF and what was your first job there?

A While I was still at school, my grandparents helped me write a letter to Solway DAF to get a work experience opportunity. After that, all I wanted to do was work on trucks so when I left school I started in the Solway DAF workshop and attended college on day release. I left briefly a year later to help my family out, when the foot and mouth crisis hit, and Solway held my job open for my return.

Q When did you take your HGV licence?

A The dealership put me in for my HGV test

when I was 21 and I passed my Class 1 first time. For three years, I covered DAFaid call outs, so I had my own LDV van. I loved driving around the countryside dealing with vehicle breakdowns.

Q How did your early career progress from there?

A In 2008, I was offered a job by my uncle William Armstrong, who was running Carlisle Truck Centre, the Foden dealership in Carlisle. It turned out that working for family is not always easy, so a year later I moved to the M-Sport Ford world rally team helping to move cars to events around Europe in a transporter and setting up once on site. I love fast cars so the challenge of getting them to

MEET THE TRAINERS

rallies in fourteen countries around the world, and then setting up for events, was really interesting.

In March 2012 one of the rally crowd put my name forward to a vehicle director who was pulling together a crew for a movie, which turned out to be Mad Max Fury Road. Within two weeks I was on my way to Swakopmund, Namibia, where I was employed as one of two truck mechanics.

I took care of the trucks in action scenes, while the other mechanic looked after the static vehicle filming. My job involved daily checks on the 12 trucks, moving them to the middle of the desert ready for filming, and running repairs on the trucks during filming. We always had to expect something being set on fire and, with vehicles being deliberately crashed into each other all day long, we were kept very busy! You might also spot me in the film as I’m also in the background in some of the driving scenes.

Q How did the film trucks differ from ‘standard’ vehicles?

A A lot of the trucks were like nothing I’d worked on before. The main trucks were Tatra trucks with air-cooled engines. To cope with the trailer and driving through deep sand, we had to fit 1000hp racing engines that had been developed for the Dakar Rally. Other engines had to be fitted with a water spray system that we designed to keep them cool in the desert heat.

When we finished filming in Namibia, I got the job of driving to the film studios in Cape Town including four days camped at the border, making sure all the vehicles made it through OK. That was one of the best experiences of my life; meeting locals and taking the opportunity to take tours around farms and mines and to see different ways of life.

Q Did you return home after Africa?

A Not exactly – not properly, anyway!

After six more weeks of filming in Cape Town I returned to England for Christmas before heading off for a working holiday in Australia. I visited friends in Perth and then headed to Sydney where I had a part-time job building stages for concerts and truck driving for staging rental. It was a good job, different to what I am used to and I met some good

He has been lucky enough to meet a lot of people, including Valentino Rossi, at Monza racetrack running parts for him

During the filming of Mad Max Fury Road, he worked on location in Namibia, South Africa and Australia

people. Then Warner Brothers Armstrong’s career has seen him decided the Mad work the WRC circuit as well Max film needed as on Mad Max film sets more footage for the beginning and end so we started shooting again in the Sydney studies and also on location near the city.

The vehicles, which were returning from South Africa by boat, needed to be thoroughly cleaned them whilst on board ship and before to clear quarantine and so we had to go docking in Sydney. Once landed we had to Perth and then Melbourne, to shift to make the vehicles, which had been SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

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MEET THE TRAINERS

battered during the action in Namibia, look like new again for the scenes at the start of the movie. And then we had to make them old again for the end! The final shoot was to prepare the ‘war rig’ that I had been looking after most, for a dramatic roll over in the last scene in the film. Then we had to chop it up for scrap, which was a sad day after two years of keeping it running and continually fixing it up. The two other ’war rigs’ and the rest of the trucks and cars used are still in storage in Sydney.

Q Did you go on to another film after Mad Max? A No, in January 2014 I returned home and started back at M-Sport and headed to Monte Carlo to start the new rally season. By the end of the season I was in charge of the service park, running the team and the long-haul set up. I drove the main service truck for the races as well as all the extra events such as the Monza race show and testing. In 2015, I took responsibility for parts on the main WRC cars as well as running the service park job and driving the truck!

I realised by the end of the season that I was not spending enough time with my girlfriend and I needed to settle down a wee bit. So I called in to Solway DAF on my way back from Spain to have a talk with the Service Director, Ernie Coulthard. After telling me he wasn’t looking for anyone just then, I hadn’t made it as far as the gate before he called me back for a talk and ended up offering me a job in the workshop.

A week later he called me and asked if, with my driving experience, I’d be interested in becoming the Dealer Driver Trainer for Solway in addition to working in the workshop as a technician and I said yes!

Q Was the workshop environment much different to when you left the UK? A Just a bit! Coming back as a DAF technician, it was amazing the changes since I’d left. So we decided I should start over again with all my training courses to understand the latest DAFs, which are a lot more advanced and, to my disappointment, a ‘less hammer, more computer’ approach is now adopted! I feel I am picking it up and I am due to start dealing with DAFaid call outs shortly.

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Q What car do you currently drive and, if money was no object what would you have?

A I enjoy working every hour of the day, as I do love to spend money on my tool box, holidays and my fast cars. I drive an Audi S3 and I would love an RS6, but while I might have worked on films, I’m not earning Premier League football player wages!

Q Do you have a top tip for a driver getting his new DAF? A A lot of drivers, and some operators, can be put off by the latest truck technology and crave more power and black smoke. DAF do provide all the power, to do any job you need and in every application, but a lot of drivers moving from older trucks rely on the engine revs to know when it’s pulling. So I’d recommend that drivers keep an open mind and listen to the advice of the DAF trainer when they are handed a new vehicle.

Q What do you enjoy most about your role?

A I like demonstrating how all the features work and then sitting back and allowing drivers time to get used to the vehicle. Most drivers end up loving the truck and loving the fuel saving they can get. The safety features on the vehicle are really good and, having had the opportunity to test them myself during my training, I can help drivers understand how they work. Making the roads safer for everyone has got to be our number one goal.

Q If you weren’t doing this, what would your ideal job be?

A I feel I have done all my dream jobs and

I have certainly proved my school teachers wrong! I have lived an amazing life, mostly at someone else’s expense. I would encourage everyone who gets the chance to travel to take it and meet amazing people and see amazing places. I am very proud of the fact I have never had a day off work ill and I will have a go at fixing anything. I have a good MOT first time pass mark. Not quite 100%, but on track so far this year.

I love working on my house, spending time with family and friends. Loving my life, regretting nothing.

Below: Armstrong’s trusty toolbox, which is constantly being upgraded

MERCHANDISE

TIME ON YOUR HANDS Fancy getting your hands on a DAF timepiece? Here are some of the new watches now available in the DAF collection Words: Richard Warner

Photographs: DAF Trucks

DAF’s Construction watch

A

utumn 2018 saw the launch of the DAF Collection range, which included a collection of no fewer than six different watches. Here’s a look at the additions to the range.

Firm favourites from past DAF Collections have been the ‘Construction’ and ‘Sportive’ style watches. The former is the new chunky, sturdy style of watch, designed to take a rough day’s work in its stride. This model comes equipped with a double-layered dial and a black and white face for a sturdy effect. Three smaller dials and a minute hand on the outer edge, complete the spec and there is a choice of either ‘camo’ effect or leather strap.

Like the Construction watch, the Sportive has undergone a full makeover for 2019. A black stainless steel casing with black and blue dials, three inner dials and date window, have been incorporated into the fresh look. Sportive is available with a choice of either blue canvas or black rubber straps.

To celebrate DAF’s 90th birthday last year, a limited-edition watch (500 units produced) also joined the collection. A simple and clear white face, inner dials paired to a brown leather strap and the now iconic Heritage DAF logo on the face, are all elements that will make this watch a clear favourite for collectors.

A pair of ‘classic’ watches were also added, which brought a simple, but grown-up design to the range. There is a choice of a matt black dial and two

DAF’s Classic watch with leather strap

DAF’s Mix & Match watch

DAF’s 90th Anniversary watch

styles of leather strap, or a copper coloured face (with two inner dials) with the same strap choice.

Finally, there is a departure from the usual designs, with a ‘Mix & Match’ watch that gives you the opportunity to change the outer ring for a different colour. There is a choice of either bronze, silver or black to help ensure your watch will match your outfit. For the Mix & Match watch, the face is a simplistic white with steel outer casing and a choice of brown or black smooth leather straps.

DAF’s Classic watch with two inner dials

DAF’s Sportive watch SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

47

DAF Trucks UK Dealer Locator & Contact Details The quality of a truck depends on the quality of the organisation behind it, which is why the DAF dealer network offers a unique advantage with the best geographical coverage of the UK, the most heavy truck experience and the longest opening hours of any truck franchise.

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY

● Truck Sales, Parts and Service Dealers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Area ABERDEEN ASHFORD BRISTOL CARDIFF CARLISLE CROYDON DERBY EDINBURGH GLASGOW GLOUCESTER GRAYS GUERNSEY GUILDFORD HALESOWEN HEATHROW HUDDERSFIELD HULL IPSWICH LEEDS LEICESTER LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER MILTON KEYNES NEWTON ABBOT NEWTOWNABBEY NORWICH PRESTON READING SHEFFIELD SHREWSBURY SOUTHAMPTON STOCKTON STOKE ON TRENT WOLVERHAMPTON

Dealer name Norscot Truck & Van Ltd ★▲ Channel Commercials PLC ★▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲◆ Watts Truck & Van Cardiff ★ Solway DAF ★ HTC Croydon ★ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ Lothian DAF ★▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd Harris DAF ★▲◆ Rabeys Garage Ltd Barnes DAF Imperial Commercials Ltd ★▲ HTC Heathrow ▲ F&G Commercials Ltd ▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ Chassis-Cab Ltd ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Leeds ▲◆ Ford & Slater DAF ★ North West Trucks ▲ F&G Commercials Ltd ▲◆ Brian Currie ▲ Wessex DAF TBF Thompson DAF ★ Ford & Slater DAF ★▲◆ Lancashire DAF ★▲ HTC Reading ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Sheffield ▲ Greenhous DAF ▲ Adams Morey Ltd ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Stockton ★▲◆ Imperial Commercials Ltd Greenhous DAF ★▲

Postcode AB23 8JZ TN23 1EH BS2 OQP CF11 8AT CA3 0HD CR0 4TD DE22 4NB EH20 9QH G51 4TH GL1 2SQ RM20 4AU GY1 6DP GU1 1RR B63 2RL SL3 0ED HD2 1UR HU9 5PJ IP6 0RL LS28 6SD LE3 2JG L36 6AJ M17 1HG MK6 1LH TQ12 6UE BT36 4PT NR5 0JS PR5 8BW RG7 4AG S13 9NR SY1 3JE SO15 0DR TS18 2RS ST6 2DE WV13 3SF

Telephone 01224 824444 01233 629272 01173 042800 02920 308595 01228 539394 0208 683 6200 01332 824371 0131 440 4100 0141 425 1530 01452 508700 01708 864426 01481 244551 01483 594900 01384 424500 01753 681818 01484 300500 01482 795111 01473 833003 01132 571701 01162 632900 0151 480 0098 0161 746 1919 01908 663991 01626 833737 02890 342001 01603 731600 01772 338111 01189 300900 01142 939200 01743 467904 02380 663000 01642 637660 01782 276600 01902 305090

Postcode OX14 3NG BB5 5YT KA8 9RT OX16 4SP S71 3HS SS14 3JB RG24 8NS MK41 9TG ML4 3LU DA17 6BT B6 5TG B33 0SL DH3 2AF DE55 5JY BH8 0BL MK18 1DR IP32 6NL TR14 0PY CB5 8SQ CT3 3DW LA5 9DW WF10 5UB S40 2RG LL28 5RA NN17 4BA CV3 4FL RH10 9NS G67 3EH CH5 2QJ DN6 7BA DN8 4JD DG2 0JE DD2 4UH TD11 3HS BN23 6PW IV30 6UH BA11 2FD BT51 5JZ DN31 2TG HP2 7YU HR4 8DS HP12 4HS LL65 4RJ IV1 1SG IM9 2AQ

Telephone 01235 531004 01282 773377 01292 269002 01295 270072 01226 731870 01268 290680 01256 811414 01234 211241 01698 573800 02083 197800 0121 326 6985 0121 784 4023 0191 492 1155 01773 813313 01202 524422 01280 814741 01284 768570 01209 721989 0333 323 4040 01304 841111 01524 734544 01924 227722 01246 234213 01492 580303 01536 207980 02476 302856 01293 537520 0123 672 7771 01244 521643 01302 727040 01405 740086 01387 720820 01382 611166 01361 883411 01323 745700 01343 547121 01373 464524 02829 558353 01472 362929 01442 835670 01432 763900 01494 465464 01407 721197 01463 712000 01624 825559

● Parts and Service Dealers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Area ABINGDON ACCRINGTON AYR BANBURY BARNSLEY BASILDON BASINGSTOKE BEDFORD BELLSHILL BELVEDERE BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM BIRTLEY BLACKWELL BOURNEMOUTH BUCKINGHAM BURY ST EDMUNDS CAMBORNE CAMBRIDGE CANTERBURY CARNFORTH CASTLEFORD CHESTERFIELD CONWY CORBY COVENTRY CRAWLEY CUMBERNAULD DEESIDE DONCASTER DONCASTER DUMFRIES DUNDEE DUNS EASTBOURNE ELGIN FROME GARVAGH GRIMSBY HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HEREFORD HIGH WYCOMBE HOLYHEAD INVERNESS ISLE OF MAN

Dealer name R P Cherry & Son Ltd Lynch Truck Services Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ GB DAF Banbury F & G Commercials Ltd ▲ Harris DAF ▲ Adams Morey Ltd Brian Currie Imperial Commercials Ltd HTC Belvedere ★ Greenhous DAF ▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Birtley ★▲◆ H W Martin Adams Morey Ltd ★ Ring Road Garage ▲ Chassis-Cab Ltd Wessex DAF Chassis-Cab Ltd ▲ Channel Commercials PLC Lakeland Trucks Ltd Pelican DAF ▲◆ A Herring Ltd ▲ Parrys Commercials Ltd Ford & Slater DAF ▲ Ford & Slater DAF ▲ GB DAF Gatwick Imperial Commercials Ltd ★ Imperial Commercials Ltd ◆ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ Fishlake Commercials Ltd ▲◆ Solway DAF Norscot Truck & Van Ltd ▲ J E Douglas and Sons ▲ Brewers DAF Sheriffmill Motor Co Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ TBF Thompson DAF Imperial Commercials Ltd ◆ HTC Hemel ▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd Euroway DAF ★▲ Holyhead Truck Services ▲ Norscot Truck & Van Ltd Wade’s Truck Services ★

46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

Area ISLEHAM JERSEY KETTERING KINGS LANGLEY KING’S LYNN KIRKCALDY LINCOLN LIVERPOOL LUTON MACCLESFIELD MELBOURN NARBERTH NEWARK NEWPORT NEWPORT IOW NORTHAMPTON NORTHWICH NOTTINGHAM OLDHAM OXFORD PARK ROYAL PENRITH PERTH PETERBOROUGH PLYMOUTH PORTADOWN PORTSMOUTH RIPON RUGBY SALISBURY SCUNTHORPE SEVENOAKS SHOREHAM SPALDING STROOD SUTTON IN ASHFIELD SWANSEA SWINDON TAMWORTH TAUNTON TELFORD TORKSEY WALTHAM CROSS WARWICK WIGAN WISBECH WITHAM WORCESTER WORKINGTON WREXHAM YORK

Dealer name Universal Garage DAF ★▲ Rabeys F W Abbott Ltd ▲ CCS Ford & Slater DAF Drummond Motor Co Ltd Ford & Slater DAF MTC Northwest Ltd ▲ HTC Luton Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ Foulger’s (CVS) Ltd ▲ G D Harries ▲◆ Ford & Slater DAF ▲ Watts Truck & Van Newport ▲ Adams Morey Ltd Brian Currie North West Trucks ★ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ F & G Commercials Ltd HTC Oxford ★▲ HTC Park Royal Solway DAF Norscot Truck & Van Ltd ★ Ford & Slater DAF ▲ Wessex DAF TBF Thompson DAF Adams Morey Ltd ▲ Kettlewell Commercials Ltd Ford & Slater DAF Adams Morey Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd Channel Commercials PLC ▲ Barnes DAF ★ Ford & Slater DAF ▲◆ Channel Commercials PLC ★ Imperial Commercials Ltd Watts Truck & Van Swansea ★ Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲◆ DW Commercials Taunton DAF Halesfield Truck & Van Ltd ▲ Eastments Garage Ltd Harris DAF ★▲ Imperial Commercials Ltd ◆ Woodwards Truck and Van Centre Ford & Slater Ltd ▲ Harris Truck & Van Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd ▲ Solway DAF Imperial Commercials Ltd Imperial Commercials Ltd

Postcode CB7 5PW JE2 7GR NN15 6NL WD4 8JA PE34 3AH KY1 2YX LN4 2NQ L33 7XS LU3 3AN SK11 0JB SG8 6DF SA67 8RG NG24 2NZ NP10 9HZ PO30 5UZ NN7 3AB CW9 7NU NG9 2JR OL9 9XA OX5 1FQ NW10 6DF CA11 9BN PH2 8BH PE1 5YD PL12 6NZ BT63 5WE PO3 5NN HG4 5EX CV21 3UY SP2 7NP DN16 1UW TN13 2TL BN43 6PB PE11 3ZN ME2 4EW NG17 2JZ SA7 9FB SN3 5JY B77 1LF TA2 8DW TF7 4QW LN1 2EJ EN8 7PG CV35 9JY WN3 6PQ PE13 2TQ CM8 3UJ WR5 3HR CA14 4JH LL14 4DP YO30 4XA

Telephone 01638 780642 01534 862304 01536 517704 01923 262199 01553 764466 01592 653485 01522 518170 0151 545 4750 01582 505464 01260 253232 01763 262826 01834 862436 01636 701673 01633 891991 01983 522552 01604 858810 01606 818088 01159 677077 0161 947 1400 01865 844100 0208 961 5863 01768 892938 01738 626688 01733 295000 01752 848359 02838 393300 02392 691122 01765 640913 01788 579535 01722 412171 01724 282444 01732 469469 01273 454887 01775 715680 01634 296686 01623 516735 01792 582255 01793 554130 01827 59221 01823 331275 01952 586454 01427 718638 01992 651155 01789 473200 01942 230026 01945 461316 01376 533680 01905 829800 01900 66927 01978 346100 01904 692909

● Truck Sales, Parts and Service Dealers Republic of Ireland Area 35 DUBLIN

Dealer name DAF Distributors Ireland Ltd ★

Road No. Dublin 22

Telephone 00 353 1403 4141

● Parts and Service Dealers Republic of Ireland 97 98 99 100 101

Area CAVAN CORK CO TIPPERARY DUBLIN GALWAY

Dealer name Interparts Drumalee Ltd DAF Truck Services Cork Ltd Guilfoyle Truck Sales Ltd North Dublin Commercials Ltd Galway Truck & Van Centre Ltd

Road No. N3 N20 R445 M1 N84

Telephone 00 353 49 433 1777 00 353 21 430 1202 00 353 505 23333 00 353 1802 0139 00 353 91 751 984

The extensive DAF national network delivers the best Back-Up in the business. Our flexible range of MultiSupport servicing, repair and maintenance options will help you control costs, minimise downtime and maximise vehicle availability. Out on the road, our legendary DAFaid roadside assistance service provides the leading average roadside assistance time in the industry. ● ● ★ ◆ ▲

Sales, Parts & Service Dealers Parts & Service Dealers Additional Service – Coach & Bus Additional Service – Petroleum Regulations Additional Service – Authorised Testing Facility

SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

49

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DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

ENSURE MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR DAF WITH OUR DIESEL PARTICLE FILTER KIT

DAF SERVICE KITS

DEEP-CLEANED FOR ANOTHER

500,000KM

We use a unique DPF cleaning technology to provide outstanding cleaning performance, delivering significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption and ensuring the correct intervals between cleaning.

• Guaranteed for

In addition, we use a range of inspection technologies to investigate the condition of the DPF after cleaning.

This provides reassurance that the filter has been cleaned successfully and can be re-fitted with confidence, which is backed by our 2 year warranty.

• 2 year warranty

the service life*

• Wall Flow Filter • High filtration efficiency • Includes all gaskets • Advanced cleaning programme * MX Engine 3years, PX Engine 5years

DAF CALIPERS, DISCS AND PADS

THE PERFECT BRAKING COMBINATION The performance and endurance of each part of an air braking system is crucial to ensure operational safety. The outstanding performance of DAF Calipers, discs and pads is the result of many years of research and development. Manufactured specifi for DAF trucks, they are ASK UScally FOR FULL PRODUCT all supported by a full DAF Nationwide warranty.

BRAKE CALIPERS DAF genuine brake calipers provide increased vehicle up time, at competitive prices, keeping operating costs down whilst providing optimal braking performance in all weather conditions when matched with DAF genuine Brake Discs, Pads and Brake Actuation.

ENGINE FITMENT

PART NO.

MX -11 / MX-13 ENGINE

2137441R

PX-5 ENGINE

2137442R

PX-7 ENGINE

2137443R

GO FOR THE FULL-SERVICE PERIOD OPTION FOR LESS DOWNTIME!

BRAKE DISCS • DAF OE Air Disc systems are selected and developed to work perfectly together and provide the ultimate in Braking safety and efficiencies • DAF Brake Discs undergo rigorous and demanding testing to provide the safety features you expect from your vehicle, and can withstand extreme demands

INFORMATION • The DAF splined brake disc is designed to

provide long life and a cost effective solution by reducing heat transfer to the wheel hub and avoiding unnecessary stresses

BRAKE PADS DAF brake pads offer improved stability and resistance to higher operating temperatures, improved heat dissipation and reinforced back plates.

These features provide less vehicle down time and lower operational costs, with improved safety and improved driver experience.

Spring kit included.

SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY

51

G

LLIN I B F SEL ICE O INV

52

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

COMPETITION In association with

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Your chance to win fantastic prizes every issue

HOW TO WIN: DAF Trucks has supplied these sporty DAF sunglasses in black, with blue rubber feet.

Providing UV400 protection and complete with a luxurious DAF hard case with zip.

Simply spot and mark the four differences on the images above. Once completed either cut out or photocopy and post to DAF Driver Magazine, 4th Floor, 19 Capesthorne Drive, Eaves Green, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 3QQ Closing date: Friday 17th May 2019

FULL NAME ADDRESS

POST CODE TELEPHONE EMAIL Terms & Conditions: Not suitable for children under 14 years of age. The winner will be notified within 30 days of the closing date either by letter, telephone or email.

All entrants will be placed in a hat and selected at random by a third party. No money alternative will be offered. The winner’s name and county will be displayed in the next issue of DAF Driver Magazine.

Winner from last issue: Mr. R Sinclair, Oxfordshire

Winner’s details to appear in the summer issue of DAF Driver magazine SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER

53

SIMPSON SAYS

CLEAN-UP OPERATION It wasn’t long ago that Euro 6 was being hailed a success, but everyone is already looking forward to what will be on the cards with a ‘Euro 7’ standard

By Richard Simpson, industry pundit

W

ith all the current talk of Clean Air Zones and Ultra-Low Emissions in towns and cities across the UK, it’s often forgotten that the introduction of Euro 6 technology on trucks and buses, represents an overwhelming success for diesel technology – and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) using AdBlue in particular. This was the technology backed by DAF from its inception.

It’s hard to credit now, but at one time some rival truck manufacturers were making all sorts of claims about the supposed difficulties, that using AdBlue would pose to the industry. Ironically, those manufacturers are now among the most enthusiastic proponents of AdBlue!

And, while diesel emission controls in the humble passenger car world have certainly had their ups and downs, the heavy vehicle industry has emerged with considerable credit for its introduction of Euro 6. The proof is in the pudding, with air quality on bus routes in London and Brighton that have been turned over to Euro 6 vehicles, only steadily improving as the local air is cleaned up.

While SCR has generally proved to be a reliable technology at Euro 6, there have been some problems reported.

But investigation reveals that many of those problems arise from AdBlue contamination. Compared to oil or diesel, bulk-purchased AdBlue is relatively cheap. But that doesn’t mean that its purity must not be respected.

54

DAF DRIVER SPRING 2019

Contamination can arise easily if dirty containers are used to transfer AdBlue into vehicles, or the wrong fluid is inadvertently poured into the tank. So, it pays to ensure that proper procedures are always followed, and only genuine certified quality AdBlue is used.

A question now being asked is, what delights a Euro 7 standard might bring

A QUESTION NOW BEING ASKED IS WHAT DELIGHTS A EURO 7 STANDARD MIGHT BRING US? IN TRUTH, IT’S UNLIKELY THAT THE LEVELS OF NOX AND PM PRODUCED BY ADVANCED ENGINES SUCH AS DAF’S PX AND MX RANGES CAN BE REDUCED MUCH FURTHER

As ever, DAF is well placed to meet these targets, with hybrid and all-electric drivelines in development for specialist applications

us? In truth, it’s unlikely that the levels of NOx and PM produced by advanced engines such as DAF’s PX and MX ranges can be reduced much further: they are already so low as to be quite difficult to measure. But we do know that there will be increasing emphasis placed on CO2 outputs, and hence fuel consumption.

Europe is already setting manufacturers ambitious targets in this respect.

As ever, DAF is well placed to meet these targets, with hybrid and allelectric drivelines in development for specialist applications. But, what is perhaps less well-known, is that the environmental performance of DAF’s current engines can easily be improved without any adjustment at all, simply by switching to a synthetic diesel such as GTL or HVO. These fuels are available in the UK now, indeed DAF’s demonstration fleet runs on HVO, but availability is limited and, currently, no Government incentives apply so it is more expensive than ‘fossil’ diesel.

Diesel is going to be the fuel of choice for most trucks for many years to come. Unlike diesel cars, alternative technologies are not universally suitable.

Wouldn’t it be great if the government could arrange for some form of duty rebate for truck fleets running on HVO or GTL… enough to at least make the cost comparable to that of mineral diesel?

Pro-actively protecting your engine

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Responding to the extreme demands of your engine, Havoline engine oils deliver dynamic protection and performance where it is needed most, exceeding even the toughest industry specifications.

Proud to sponsor: /HavolineEurope europe.havoline.com SPRING 2019 DAF DRIVER © 2019 Chevron Products UK Limited. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC with the exception of Team Brit which is the property of the respective owner.

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PACCAR Financial Tailored financial solutions As DAF’s in-house finance provider, PACCAR Financial has over 50 years’ experience offering financial services specifically for the transport sector. Naturally for the financing of your trucks, but also for complete combinations.

With various financing possibilities, including repair & maintenance contracts. PACCAR Financial always offers a solution tailored to your individual requirements.

A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY