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ISSUE 21
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SUMMER 2020
DAF DRIVER INSIDE THE UK’S #1 TRUCK MANUFACTURER
HAY GOOD LOOKING P&L FORMAN VICTORIOUS AT DAF’S VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
In this issue of
DAF DRIVER Summers operator profile Adventures in Australia Testing times for workshops
ALSO:
Classic cat collection
The family-run DAF dealer with an interesting sideline in Jaguars
Right direction
Rear-steer truck technology under the microscope
Surplus to requirements An exclusive look around the Rush Green Motors truck graveyard
LATEST DAF TRUCKS NEWS • UK DEALER LOCATOR • OPERATOR SUCCESS STORIES • INDUSTRY OPINION • HEALTH AND SAFETY
DAF FLEET SERVICES
Keeping You In Perfect Formation
When you choose DAF, you choose a company with 25 years UK market leadership, plus back-up and support that’s simply unbeatable. To keep your fleet in perfect formation, DAF Fleet Services offers a bespoke solution designed to safeguard vehicle compliance and remove the admin burden of operating HGV’s. Through the DAFcheck web portal all vehicles are monitored to ensure service inspections and legal requirements are completed on time. To find out more contact your local DAF Dealer or visit www.daf.co.uk
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DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
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WELCOME FROM YOUR PUBLISHER
WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF DAF DRIVER MAGAZINE There is no doubt it’s been a challenging time for everyone over the past few months, but we remain committed to keeping you up to date with all things DAF, all around the world. This issue features a story of an Australian operator, the tale of a popular truck graveyard and some impressive operator success stories from around the UK. Publisher - Matthew Eisenegger
Welcome to
WELCOME TO THE SUMMER ISSUE OF THE ‘COVID-PROTECTED’ DAF DRIVER MAGAZINE
A
s the world returns to something like normal we can look back with considerable pride to the performance of the road transport industry during the worst of the covid-19 crisis. Sure, there were local shortages of some foodstuffs and fast-moving consumer goods, but in many cases these were caused by panic-buying rather than any failure of the supply chain. In fact, the industry responded magnificently to the changes in shopping habits, rapidly making up shortfalls in supply and coping with the shift to on-line shopping and home delivery. All this would have been impossible without the support of manufacturers and dealers. DAF kept its workshops open throughout the crisis, even maintaining and repairing cars and ambulances for the NHS alongside customers’ heavy trucks. At every step of the road since news of the pandemic first emerged, DAF went above and beyond in protecting and helping people. These measures included subsidising hot drinks at service stations up and down the country – a gesture that was welcomed by many! And we are doing our bit here at DAF Driver magazine to mitigate the continuing risk of covid infection. We know the magazine has a high ‘pass-on’ readership – with each copy being shared
among friends and colleagues – and don’t want to have fears of infection to interfere with that. So, DAF Driver magazine is now printed with an antimicrobial paper finish using silver ions which has proved over 99% effective in testing, meaning you can be a borrower or a lender without fear of the magazine becoming a super-spreader’! Back in the world of trucks, there is an accelerating trend towards novel axle forms for rigid chassis. So-called ‘rear-steers’ featuring bogies with steering rear axles, are taking an increasing share of the market from conventional 4x2, 6x4 and 8x4 chassis. And why not? A rear-steer 6x2 26-tonner can venture into places previously only accessible by 18-tonne or smaller trucks, while modern electronics and tyre technology mean that the double-drive found on traditional six and eight wheelers can be dropped in many applications, reducing turning circles, weight and fuel-consumption without an unacceptable trade-off in off-highway mobility. And, even if the traction offered by double-drive remains an operational essential, a rear-steer solution is still possible by going for a three-axle rear bogie on an eight-wheeler. You can find out more about the options available and the technology that makes it all happen on page 30.
By downloading a free app on to your smartpho to life using the power of a new technology calle To access bonus content on this page simply fo
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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
ISSUE 20
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SPRING 2020
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INFORMATION
FEATURES 6 SUMMERS DAY Robert Summers Transport is still going strong after half a century
12 VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW The Covid-19 pandemic impacted people’s lives in all sorts of ways, but DAF Trucks was able to react to the situation
22 CLASSIC CATS AT CHASSIS CAB
REGULARS 3 WELCOME DAF Trucks will be with you on the long road to recovery from Covid-19
16 MAKING HAY Fresh from securing the ‘Best working DAF Truck’ award at the manufacturer’s Virtual Truck Show, we catch up with P&L Forman
43 SIMPSON SAYS
A fleet of classic Jaguar cars share space with trucks at a DAF dealership
Analysing the vehicle testing backlog that has resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic
28 SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HIGHS
45 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Take a trip down under to learn about Australian DAF operator Lindsay Transport
Win a great prize in this issue’s easy-to-enter competition
32 REAR GUARD ACTION
52 TRAINER’S NOTES
Rearmost steering axles have been around for decades, but what makes them so popular
38 END OF LIFE CARE We take a tour around Rush Green Motors, home to a plethora of pre-loved vehicles
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Doing things differently with Mandy Wannerton, DAF driver training manager
53 MEET THE TRAINERS Charlie Johnston, DAF Dealer Driver Trainer for Aberdeen’s Norscot Truck & Van
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 Richard Simpson Ronnie Hitchens John Kendall Kieron Fennelly Mandy Wannerton Paul Matthei 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 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. SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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OPERATOR PROFILE
SUMMERS DAY
With his blend of many years’ experience and a canny Scottish approach, David Summers, Managing Director of Robert Summers Transport, is a busy man. Busy renewing his fleet, busy picking up new business and busy keeping the firm, started 50 years ago by his parents, growing sensibly.
Words reproduced with kind permission of TRUCKING magazine
Words: Ronnie Hitchens
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Photographs: Karl Hopkinson
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Family affair. From left - Robbie Summers (grandson), Robert Summers (founder and David’s father) and David Summers (MD and Robbie’s father).
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hen you talk to David Summers, you find yourself talking to a happy man. His mother and father, having handed over to him some 30 years ago, continue to show a real interest in the business. Father, Bob, now 84, still pops in for a weekly roundup. Bob and his wife, Sally, started the business in July 1970, having begged and borrowed enough money to buy an old T K Bedford. They made this purchase with little more than a promise of work from a local agriculture merchant. That T K Bedford was transformed to immaculate order, recalls David. “In many ways it set 8
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the standard for everything that was to come,” he says. “With my dad back then – and still today – we take the approach that we either do things properly or we leave them alone.” It was clearly a winning formula, because within a couple of years at their base in Buckhaven, Fife, where the firm remains to this day, the couple bought a Leyland Comet and then added a transit van, which Sally drove. She did this as well as keeping the books and attending to the needs of family life. It’s clear to see that David has inherited the hard work ethos from his parents. He joined the firm aged 15, as a second-man on the lorries or
OPERATOR PROFILE
working in the garage, if there was any spare time. His sister Elizabeth joined the business a little later and still oversees the admin side of things to this day. Though the business has grown steadily, the sense of history remains strong. Without having to refer back to any notes, David says that, after the TK Bedford and the Leyland Comet, the family then took on an ERF. The first-ever new truck to then join the fleet was a Volvo F86, bought in 1973 for the princely sum of £8,000. “Volvo had a place near us in Kirkcaldy and that F86 just set new standards for trucks in the UK,” he recalls. “It seemed an awful lot of money at the time, but we loved it at first sight and never once regretted the investment.” High standards The same canniness prevails
today, though the focus of attention is increasingly on DAF products, which David is happy to admit set their own high standards. The fleet currently stands at 46 trucks – 12 of which
are now DAF. The company runs 85 trailers, mostly curtainsiders, but also has a couple of step-frames and flat beds. Four new SDC Tautliners are imminent, further swelling the ranks and
boosting capability. On the truck side of life, the latest additions are some DAF XF480 tractor units with Super Space Cabs. The big rigs run away from the base all week, and David says he likes to spec the Little sibling. This fantastic looking DAF LF supplements the artic fleet on local delivers.
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Lap of luxury. Drivers are treated to new top-spec DAF XF 480s with Super Space Cabs.
best the company can, to give drivers as much comfort as possible. “I guess they were a little uncertain when we made a move to the DAFs – and maybe I was too,” he admits. “But that’s behind us now – I bought our first DAF in 2011 and it continues to be a reliable member of our fleet, so I suppose that was a pretty good start. Today’s Super Space Cabs give drivers a special place to work – spacious and comfortable – and the 480 engine has all the power they need to cope with the road conditions we encounter. Then we add DuraBright alloy wheels, Kelsa roof bars and the company livery, all of which enable us to stand out from the crowd as one of UK’s most prestigious hauliers.” Mixed bag The Summers work is varied and takes the fleet all over 10
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the UK. A mix of palletised paper, timber products – specialising in roof trusses – as well as more general haulage. The newer tractors
THOUGH THE BUSINESS HAS GROWN STEADILY, THE SENSE OF HISTORY REMAINS STRONG. and trailers head south of the border concentrating on long distance work, while the older trucks take on the work across Scotland and the Northern part of England. This system has become a ‘Summers standard’, with vehicles usually enjoying a seven-year first life with
the haulier, but splitting their work-life between the demands of long haul initially and the shorter local routes as they get older. Supporting this philosophy, Robert Summers has its own maintenance team and workshops, where every truck is maintained to a high standard at the end of its normal two-year R&M contract. Making the change The initial DAF approach was made to Robert Summers by dealer Lothian DAF, for whom David has nothing but the highest praise. It had been calling with offers for some time, but, as David put it: “I had talked to others about the brand, so I knew what I thought in terms of reliability and performance, but I wanted some real proof of the pudding. In the end it made sense just to ‘get started’, so that first single DAF came onto the fleet and since then
the numbers have grown steadily.” Although David is a loyal customer to another reputable truck manufacturer, he was very open about the change. “The fact of the matter is that for any haulier like us – and we are now a major force in Scotland – dealer support is a huge consideration. We have established a good relationship with Lothian DAF and its sister dealership Lancashire DAF, as well as many other DAF dealers across the UK. Our local DAF service dealer – Drummond Motor Company, only four miles from our depot, provides an outstanding service, always willing to go that ‘extra mile’. It has the same ‘can do’ attitude as we do and it does things right!” Haulier of the Year Today’s Robert Summers’ business looks beautifully balanced, with over 80
OPERATOR PROFILE
customers of varying size, a 50/50 split of local and longdistance work and a group of around 30 regular subcontractors adding flexibility and capacity. Little wonder it was voted Haulier of the Year in the 2019 Scottish Awards. It’s a position achieved through hard work and attention to detail and David is overseeing these changes to try and ensure it stays that way. “It’s an old saying – you can’t stand still in business,” he says. “Things are changing and we must change with them to keep ahead.” So how does he feel about the future in general terms? He is clearly happy with progress to date, though far from complacent, feeling that with the loyalty shown by his customers, many of them of 20-30 years standing – and his drivers, of whom he seems rightly proud, the base is sound. Although David feels transport can still offer a
great future for his son Robbie and other young people – he also believes it will continue to be a good place for those with rather more miles on the clock. “Road Haulage is definitely changing, although I guess if you’re just starting out you don’t have the old ways to compare to. I sometimes feel the industry is in danger of drowning in red tape as more new legislation seems to land on my desk every week, making my job increasingly complex and demanding! However, I do agree, much of this is making the business more environmentally friendly and the roads a safer place to be.” With the Summers “do it right” mantra being enforced at every opportunity, there is a man and a business that is destined to carry on the successes of the past. Certainly don’t bet against the next generation building even further on its solid base. SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
THE SHOW MUST GO ON In place of the industry’s traditional flagship events, DAF Trucks stepped in with an online ‘event’ to honour the best vehicles on the road
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ne thing the truck industry loves is a show. It’s a chance to meet up with friends, colleagues and other like-minded enthusiasts but, sadly, the pandemic put a stop to any such activity in 2020. However, help was at hand from DAF Trucks, which created an opportunity for a virtual truck show – an opportunity for vehicle owners to show off their prized possessions and also for ‘visitors’ to look on in admiration – or sometimes envy! The DAF Trucks virtual truck show – which took place over the May Bank Holiday weekend – saw 700 entrants and attracted 55,000 views via the truck manufacturer’s social media channels. Prizes were awarded in three categories:
‘Best Working DAF Truck’ (won by Fred Forman from P&L Forman); ‘Best Show DAF Truck’ (won by Stephen Rimmer from Hurst Bros. Ltd) and ‘Best Classic DAF or Leyland Truck’) won by Ian Callery’s DAF 3300 ATi). All three winners received professional photoshoots and operator profiles in DAF Driver, the first of which – P&L Forman – you can see on page 16 of this issue. “We were delighted with the reaction from drivers and owner-operators,” commented DAF Trucks’ Social Media Manager, Martin Pidsley. “To get 55,000 hits over one weekend is a remarkable response. What has been clear after judging all the entrants is the pride and passion that truck drivers have in their vehicles.” And here is a selection of just some of the trucks entered.
WINNER BEST WORKING TRUCK FRED FORMAN
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VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
WINNER BEST CLASSIC/VINTAGE TRUCK BRIAN CALLERY
HELP WAS AT HAND FROM DAF TRUCKS, WHICH CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
WINNER BEST SHOW TRUCK STEPHEN RIMMER, HURST BROS
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VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
“WE WERE DELIGHTED WITH THE REACTION FROM DRIVERS AND OWNEROPERATORS,” COMMENTED DAF TRUCKS’ SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, MARTIN PIDSLEY
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VIRTUAL TRUCK SHOW
WHAT HAS BEEN CLEAR AFTER JUDGING ALL THE ENTRANTS IS THE PRIDE AND PASSION THAT TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE IN THEIR VEHICLES
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MAKING HAY Fresh from its victory at this year’s DAF virtual truck show with the prestigious ‘Best working DAF Truck’ award, P&L Forman & Sons is on a roll Words: Ronnie Hitchens Photographs: Karl Hopkinson
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OPERATOR PROFILE
Award winner. P&L Forman’s stunning yet understated DAF XF 510 seen here oozing kerb clout. Enough, in fact, to earn it ‘Best Working DAF Truck’ at DAF’s recent virtual truck show.
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B
oasting a strong reputation, a loyal customer base and a comprehensive knowledge of the agriculture and farming sector, family-run hay and straw haulier P&L Forman & Sons, is on course for a solid start to the decade. It’s an oft-said maxim that simplicity is the key to success. Nailing down the basic building blocks undoubtedly stands any business in good stead to reap the rewards of its hard work. It’s a philosophy that’s been wholly embraced by the Forman family, who’ve carved-out their way to success for almost 20 years. Nestled deep within the rural farmlands of the Lincolnshire Wolds, where the vast majority of their stock is sourced, the company’s HQ is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of busy warehouses and enormous distribution centres. The relative tranquility, however, in no way reflects the passion and determination of the hard-working team. When they founded the business in 2001, husband and wife team Paul and Linda Forman were able to draw on almost 30 years of prior experience, bailing hay and straw on the Wolds since the early 1970s. P&L’s position in the market is focused on sourcing stock and delivering it to its clients. The team will both bail and remove the hay or straw from farmers’ fields, storing it on their site in anticipation of deliveries throughout the year. The bulk of the company’s distribution work centres on the agricultural industry, with some deliveries going to biomass power stations for use as fuel. DAF from day one From the cab of the award-winning 2016 DAF XF 510, parked up during a break in windy Wales, partner and son, Fred Forman, tells the story of the business. “I’d say a good 80% of our work takes us to Wales. We’ve served many of these farms for years, with Dad building a strong relationship with the farmers from his time before P&L,” explains Fred. “He used to be the driver’s mate, loading the bales onto trucks by hand. It’s a tough environment to work in and it’s only possible with the right tools”. Right from the get-go, P&L has been
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loyal to the DAF brand, with a short foray into Mercedes-Benz and Scania the only interruption to the marque’s continuous presence. The firm’s illustrious backcatalogue includes a 400hp 85 and an XF 95 480hp, with vintage Leyland models a distinctive memory of Paul’s childhood in the 1960s. A 2011 XF 105.460 is joined by the newer 16-plate XF 510 in the firm’s current line-up, with plans afoot to add a third draw-bar unit to the fleet sometime in the future. “We just love everything about DAFs – they’ve never missed a beat, they’re quiet on long journeys and the dealer back-up is second to none,” says Fred. “Regardless of whether you’re buying new or used, the service is of the very highest standard”. P&L bought the XF 510 on the used market, having been looked after locally by Ford & Slater in Lincoln. “We were considering a new XF as our sectorspecific requirements mean that the majority of used trucks just won’t cut it,” explains Fred. “It was a matter of right place, right time and we picked up the three-axle 510 at just 12-months old. Our loads are heavy and aerodynamically
inefficient and we’re regularly pulling 26-tonnes through narrow lanes and up very steep gradients. We needed a powerful, highly manoeuvrable unit to ensure we hit deliveries on time, every time. We’re rapidly approaching half a million miles on the XF, so our next addition will take over the longerdistance jobs in the spring and allow this one to focus on more local work.” The jewel in the crown The distinctive livery, well-appointed cab and immaculate condition of P&L’s XF 510 stood out to the judges at this year’s DAF virtual truck show. Owners and operators of DAF commercial vehicles were invited to submit their vehicles for judging online for the first time, each competing in one of three categories. “It’s a huge privilege to be recognised by DAF for the effort we put into maintaining our trucks,” said Fred. “It shows other operators that, even when we’re covered in dust or up to our knees in mud, we take great pride in our vehicles.” Once upon a time, P&L’s colour scheme was unapologetically blue. It was Linda
Stack ‘em up. JCB AgriSuper makes light work of loading. Not a job for hay-fever sufferers at this time of the year!
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“We just love everything about DAFs – they’ve never missed a beat, they’re quiet on long journeys and the dealer back-up is second to none.” Fred Forman.
who decided on the bold change. “It was a great decision to change our livery,” Fred believes. “Travelling up and down the motorway, you pass so many blue trucks – it can be difficult to stand out amongst the crowd. We travel many of our routes frequently, and I know that other road users instantly recognise our striking grey colour. It’s a head-turner for sure, and it’s great from a brand awareness point-of-view.” Farmyard to farmyard Sustainability plays a big part in P&L’s attitude to growth. While there’s opportunity to be had, Paul, Linda and Fred remain acutely aware that both supply and demand is a variable they cannot control. “We’re careful with our aspirations and we’re always looking at ways to maintain a steady stream of business,” Fred explains. “We balance larger, more frequent contracts with smaller farms that may only account for one delivery a month or even a year. Big business is great, but in challenging times, the loss of a major contract could have a serious SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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impact on how we run our business.” In light of the current circumstances, how, if at all, has the coronavirus pandemic dampened the firm’s aspirations for the remainder of the year? “We’re very fortunate, business is doing well at the moment”, confirmed Fred. “Farmers still need hay and straw for their animals and the demand for power isn’t changing either.” The UK’s seemingly turbulent weather has also seen P&L experience a growth in demand. Vast swathes of the country experienced record rainfall in the first few months of the year, followed by the driest May on record. The result? A lack of fresh grass for grazing, which has seen farmers increase the proportion of hay and straw in their animal feed. Knowing the job Life behind the wheel in the hay and straw haulage business isn’t for the faint-hearted. “We believe the best drivers come from a farming
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background,” says Fred. “There are so many hazards you can encounter on a farm and most aren’t designed to accept articulated lorries. Running the route is the easy part, but it’s always the last mile that showcases the skill and experience of the driver. If it’s a farm we’ve never been to before, it can be a challenge – there’s no margin for error on a narrow country lane.” Fred is keen to point out that, even after years behind the wheel himself, he’s always learning. “You gain a good understanding of the equipment and can anticipate what it’s going to do. We’ve managed to access places on the first attempt that would expose the flaws in a lesser performing truck.” A family business through and through, Fred’s cousin joined the P&L team taking on driving Paul’s truck. “He was a relatively new driver back then, but his farming background stood him in good stead,” recalls Fred. “I went out with him to start with and we’d share
thoughts on the best way to approach each task. It’s not something you can just turn up for the first time and do. We equip everyone with the skills they need.” For Fred, a big part of the job is knowing the customers. Some of P&L’s longeststanding clients pre-date the company, with Paul making his own deliveries well before Fred was even born. “We’ve delivered to three generations of farmers in some cases – we have that trust and understanding.” P&L is an excellent example of a haulier doing the basics right – honing its skills over several decades. With a keen eye on mastering the principles of quality, service and sustainability, the business continues to expand at a pace that suits them. By keeping things simple, P&L have already enjoyed a taste of success. But with strong aspirations and an unrelenting motivation to achieve, it seems the company’s heyday could still be yet to come.
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The bulk of the company’s distribution work centres on the agricultural industry, including deliveries to the biomass power stations.
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CLASSIC CARS
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CLASSIC CARS
CLASSIC CATS AT CHASSIS CAB How the man behind a franchised DAF dealer in the east of England built up an impressive collection of Jaguars Words: John Kendall
Photographs: Karl Hopkinson
IF ANY OF ROBERT’S STAFF MARRY, HIS CONTRIBUTION IS TO OFFER THE MK II JAGUAR AS A STYLISH MODE OF WEDDING TRANSPORT, WITH HIMSELF AS CHAUFFEUR SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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CLASSIC CARS
DRIVING WEDDING CARS IS NOT ROBERT’S DAY JOB, NOR IS IT SOMETHING HE PURSUES AS A BUSINESS, ALTHOUGH HIS PASSENGERS ARE PROBABLY UNAWARE OF THAT
“
You do know where you’re going, don’t you?” The question is aimed at the smartly dressed driver of the Mk II Jaguar from the booted and morningsuited man settling apprehensively into the back seat with his daughter, dazzling in silk taffeta beside him. Robert, the driver, nods and repeats their destination for reassurance. He smiles inwardly. It’s a question he has been asked a few times before and he still finds it amusing. Transporting a bride to the wrong wedding venue could make the day memorable for all the wrong reasons. Driving wedding cars is not Robert’s day job, nor is it something he pursues as a business, although his passengers are probably unaware of that. The Jaguar means more to him than being one of the most elegant 1950s designs by Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons. It is one of
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five Jaguars cherished by members of Robert’s extended family. Robert’s late father-in-law, David Ruffles, had a passion for Jaguar cars.
Besides the Mk II – a 1965 3.8-litre model, arguably the most desirable Mk II – this family of Jaguars includes two XK150S drop-head coupes, an early E-Type
CLASSIC CARS
roadster and a later supercharged XKR. Why two XK150s? David had acquired the black one in 1974 from a neighbour for the bargain price of £2,000 (it was in need of restoration). He quickly realised that he would not be able to complete the job himself and, being based in the east
BY AN EXTRAORDINARY COINCIDENCE, THE TWO XK150S HAVE CONSECUTIVE CHASSIS NUMBERS of England, put the work in the hands of Don Barter of Wymondham near Norwich who, over a period of time, restored the car in stages, necessitating visits from David bearing cash. It was on one such visit that he noticed another car under cover in Barter’s garage. A delightful discovery This hidden gem turned out to be a second XK150S drop-head coupe, the blue one. By an extraordinary coincidence, the two XK150s have consecutive chassis numbers and would have rolled off the Jaguar production line one after the other. One was originally delivered to a buyer in Northern Ireland and the other to a London customer. Since just 2,672 drophead coupe variants were manufactured and most were exported, the chance that these two would come together in a Norfolk garage some 20 years after they had left the Coventry production line, was very slender. David has two daughters – Sally and
Jane – and once the two cars had been restored, David gave one to Sally and the other to Jane and they both still have the cars today, cherishing that special connection with their late father. If driving wedding cars is not Robert’s job, how come he is driving the bride and her father to her wedding? David Ruffles was the founder of Chassis Cab, the East
of England franchised dealer for DAF. Robert Baxter took over as Managing Director of the company after David retired and it is still a family-owned concern. If any of Robert’s staff marry, his quiet contribution is to offer the Mk II Jaguar, now his car, as a stylish mode of wedding transport, with himself as chauffeur.
The XF150's sport contrasting interior colours
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CLASSIC CARS
If one of his male staff is getting married, Robert probably does not know the bride and the bride probably does not know him. “It’s a very special moment and I always feel it’s quite an honour because the hubbub of the day goes when you go to the house to pick the bride up,” Robert explains. “Then, all of a sudden, everyone’s gone and you’re left with the bride and, usually, her father. They have no idea who I am, I’m just the guy driving the car; they don’t know that I even know the future 26
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husband/son-in-law. “Then all of a sudden for a drive of sometimes 20 minutes or half an hour, I’m just the invisible driver at the front, with the bride and her father in the back and I’ve heard some amusing conversations about my staff. It’s hard not to giggle out loud sometimes!” Robert has driven for around 24 weddings over the years, “It’s just something we like to do. Hiring a wedding car nowadays can be quite expensive. Some people take the offer up and some people don’t.”
Special delivery The Mk II became a wedding car after David had it restored specifically to carry his daughter, Jane, to her wedding some 23 years ago. David then started to offer a wedding service to his staff and Robert has continued with it. “David had a view that cars were made to be driven, not just to be polished and looked at,” says Robert. The Mk II does have its limitations though. It was designed as a sleek sports saloon with the accent on speed and handling, rather than accommodation.
CLASSIC CARS
CHASSIS CAB
Due to the special connection with the business and the family, Robert has no intention of selling any of the classic Jaguars
Brides who take up the offer may have to rein in their aspirations – there is not enough room for a hooped wedding dress in the back of a Mk II. As a wedding car, the Mk II has only let Robert down on one occasion. He was ready to leave with the bride, when the clutch slave cylinder failed on the drive and a rapid replacement had to be sought. The bride on that occasion was his own daughter, so the Mk II was in disgrace for a while afterwards! David started in business as a body repairer and it is easy to see why he
was drawn to the curvaceous lines of the 1950s’ Jaguars. With a body repair background, he also took the view that he could repair them if they were damaged. He turned down many an offer to buy the cars. “People would often come up to him and say, ‘This must be worth a fortune,’” recalls Robert. “He’d reply, ‘Ah, it’s not worth anything’ and the admirer would respond, ‘It must be worth something’, to which David would reply, ‘It’s only worth something if you want to sell it and I don’t want to sell it.”
The man who bought the Jaguar Mk II and the XK 150s was the founder of Chassis Cab, which today is the DAF distributor and authorised repairer for East Anglia. David Ruffles began the business in Bury St Edmunds as a body repairer in the late 1960s and founded Chassis Cab in 1982. By the late 1980s, he had built up the business to the point where he was appointed as a parts and service dealership by Leyland DAF. David’s dedication to the business ensured that, by 1993, Chassis Cab had grown to the extent that it was granted the Leyland DAF main dealership in Ipswich. Five years later, the company expanded into new purpose-built premises at Great Blakenham, just off the A14 to the north of Ipswich, a site that remains the company’s head office today. Considerable improvements were made to the Bury St Edmunds site between 2003 and 2005, with the Ipswich site adding a tachograph testing bay in 2006, the same year that the company acquired Universal Garage near Ely, which had been a DAF service dealer since 1975. In 2014 there was further expansion, when Chassis Cab acquired the DAF Trucks franchise for Cambridge from Marshalls Motor Group. Chassis Cab now conducts DAF sales, parts and service business from all four of its sites at Great Blakenham, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Ely, employing around 175 members of staff.
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INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HIGHS
Reprinted with kind permission from Prime Mover 2020. Story by Paul Matthei. Copyright Prime Mover 2020.
The New CF & New XF, first launched in the UK in 2017, have recently been introduced in New Zealand and Australia with a Euro 6 driveline. We catch up with one of the first Australian operators to put the New CF to work in their fleet.
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V
enerable Australian freight specialist, Lindsay Transport, operates more than 100 DAFs across its national operations, making it the biggest fleet for the brand in the country. Widespread acceptance of the DAF has so far
been evaded within the national industry, but that is all set to change with the launch of new Euro 6 DAF range, which Lindsay Transport is currently evaluating at its Coffs Harbour base. The Kenworth K-series cab-over has always been a tough act to follow in Australia. Over the almost 50 years since the first K125CR ‘Grey
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
progressively pitched as a complementary product eminently suited to a range of single trailer and B-double roles, the ultra heavy-duty applications where Kenworths have traditionally reigned supreme notwithstanding. Long-time Kenworth operator Lindsay Transport wasn’t looking to replace its linehaul B-double Kenworths with DAFs when it started trialling the first DAF in its fleet in late 2015. Rather, the company was searching for the most suitable contender for mainly single trailer work, but with the capability to haul a B-double when necessary within its nationwide operation. Testament to the product delivering on its promise, four years later there are now 101 DAFs clothed in the striking red and white Lindsay livery operating from various depots around Australia. “Initially, we were looking for a local pick-up and delivery (PUD) prime mover that could pull B-doubles,” explains Rob Dummer, General Manager, Operations at Lindsay Transport. “At the time, PACCAR had approached us with a view to initiating a trial of a DAF prime mover in our fleet. So, after some discussions between ourselves, PACCAR and our local dealer Brown & Hurley around pricing and specifications, we were willing to give it a go.”
Ghost’ left PACCAR’s Bayswater production line in early 1971, the K-series in its various guises and updates, has amassed a broad spread of loyal followers throughout the Australian road transport fraternity. When PACCAR acquired DAF in 1996, the Dutch brand was subsequently integrated into its local product portfolio, without the slightest suggestion that its cab-over DAF would compete directly with the stalwart cab-over Kenworth. On the contrary, the DAF prime mover was
Left: Lindsay Transport operates more than 100 DAFs and they travel all over Australia
The move to DAF The first DAF CF prime mover to grace the Lindsay fleet was put into service in October 2015 and immediately proved its worth over the following months. “We gave it a fair trial over the next few months in the busy period leading up to Christmas and it stood up to the work the way I was hoping it would,” Rob says. “Actually, it exceeded my expectations.” Given the original DAF replaced a single-drive prime mover towing a 16-pallet tandem-axle trailer, it’s not difficult to see why the DAF CF 6x4 prime mover instantly gave the company a far broader scope in terms of the variety of applications for which it could be used. “That was the spec they were able to give me and straight away it was a truck that I could use for three different applications instead of one,” Rob explains. “In the early stages I was thinking of the DAF as primarily a local PUD truck, but, after we had been operating it for a while, I could see it was also suitable for single trailer linehaul work.” In 2016 Lindsay Transport invested in additional units for its metropolitan depots, where during a trial period, they proved successful. Rob was so impressed by those DAF CFs, he decided to buy eight more units for one of the company’s semitrailer linehaul operations, between Sydney and Brisbane, the following year. These routes entailed a multi-pickup fish run, stopping at a number of SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Right: Rob Dummer is the General Manager, Operations, at Lindsay Transport
fishing co-ops from Taree on the NSW mid-north coast to the Queensland border. “Prior to buying the DAFs for this application, we had generally used B-double prime movers that were a few years old and ready to be backed off from linehaul B-double work, but we found that buying the new DAFs for this role provided us with a number of benefits,” Rob recalls. He cites vastly improved manoeuvrability of the cab-over DAFs, compared with the mostly conventional or bonneted trucks the company uses for linehaul B-double work. “We mostly run bonneted prime movers on the highway B-double runs, because they are depotto-depot and the drivers tend to prefer them over cab-overs for that type of work,” he says. “On the other hand, with the fish run there are tight loading docks to negotiate, which is where the DAFs really shine.” That first batch of eight DAFs has recently been replaced with new units for the fish run, with the initial ones given a second life on local PUD work which, again, is the forte of cab-overs. In this way, the DAFs are expected to have an effective life span of five to six years within the Lindsay fleet. “With the stop-start type of work, the DAFs are great because they are easy for the drivers to get in and out of the cab and also the co-ops dotted along the NSW coast, are not the most truck-friendly to get in and out of. It’s quite common for the drivers to have multiple pickups on the way down,” explains the Lindsay Transport man. “The easier cab access of the DAF CF due to the lower cab, was a huge thing for me because we have had far too 30
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many slips and falls out of trucks. Because our local and distribution work is now bigger than Ben Hur, it has become increasingly apparent in recent times that we needed to source the most ideal truck for this work. Having now operated the DAF CF for more than four years, I believe it fills the bill ideally for this part of our operations.” A business on the move Lindsay Transport recently moved into the container carrying realm, with the DAF CFs proving ideal for towing skels loaded with boxes to and from the railheads and ports in the major capital cities where the company operates. Rail has become a major part of the business. A recent expansion in late 2018 saw a new branch open in Perth, where a batch of four new DAF CFs have been acquired to manage the local work out west. Just over one year on and that number has already doubled to eight units. In terms of driver acceptance, Rob says he hasn’t had any resistance from any of the drivers towards operating the DAFs. “I suppose there could have been a bit of a stigma in the beginning but once they had driven them, they didn’t want to get out of them. The DAFs are so easy to drive, comfortable and manoeuvrable,” he says. “There hasn’t been a complaint from anyone which is quite an accolade for the DAF product.” Lindsay Transport is one of the first transport outfits in the country to be invited to test a CF 85 from the newly launched DAF Euro 6 range. Rob says while evaluation of the new unit is still in its infancy, it is showing an improvement in
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
fuel economy and delivers outstanding comfort. The CF 85 is powered by a 480hp-rated engine and matched with a 12-speed TraXon automated manual transmission (AMT). At present it pulls a single trailer on the fish run between Brisbane and Sydney. “I really can’t fault the previous model either, but the new one is a bit more handsome and it has that step up in technology to Euro 6 which is definitely a good thing,” he says, adding that the new model is noticeably quieter inside the cab. Rigids on the fleet Interestingly, not all of the DAFs in the fleet are prime movers, with Lindsay Transport having also invested in a number of 8x4 rigid CFs to bolster the operation. “In 2017 we introduced the 8x4 CF with a 16-pallet refrigerated body which was a size previously unheard of on a rigid truck,” Rob says. “We service fruit depots all across Australia where we pick up two or three pallets from each farm. With a 6x4 in this type of operation, it is easy to go overweight on the steer axle when you load heavy pallets at the front. The 8x4 with load sharing eliminates this problem and the drivers are reporting manoeuvrability close to the previous 6x4 units.” Another quality Rob appreciates between both the prime mover and rigid CF, is a relatively low tare weight. “With the 8x4 rigids and the 16-pallet bodies, we still get a payload capacity of 16 tonnes which is very good for this type of vehicle,” he says. The DAF 8x4 rigid count now stands at 21 after little more than two years from when the first unit was delivered. Rob says the numbers are at once due to the replacement of older trucks and new growth, as typified by the greenfield Perth site. Naturally, the dealer supplying the trucks – Brown & Hurley at Coffs Harbour – is a vital element in the supply of DAFs to Lindsay Transport. The two companies have had a particularly close working relationship over many years, with Rob describing the assistance of Brown & Hurley Dealer Principal, Graham Sebbens, as instrumental in the process of specifying the best vehicles to meet Lindsay Transport’s needs.
business relationship and friendship, between various members of both organisations spanning three generations on both sides. Graham has been with Brown & Hurley for more than 30 years and has been involved with Lindsay Transport for all of those years, leading to strong bonds being created, particularly between himself and Rob. “The key to a mutually beneficial relationship is respect. A respect for each other and also the businesses,” says Graham. “At Brown & Hurley we endeavour to fulfil the equipment requirement needs of Lindsay Transport and this is ongoing through discussion both personally and collectively, so that we are always providing the right truck for the job.” In a successful and longstanding haulage operation like Lindsay Transport, having the right product for each application is essential. With the able assistance of Graham and the team at Brown & Hurley, Lindsay Transport has cemented DAF’s CF model as the ideal prime mover and rigid vehicle, for its ever-expanding PUD distribution work across the operation. Left: Lindsay Transport was one of the first operators in Australia to try out a CF from the new Euro 6 range Below: Rob says his drivers are big fans of the DAFs
Support from the dealers According to Graham, the DAF CF variants, including prime movers and rigids that the company has purchased since 2015, have been meeting expectations and then some. All of the fit-out and warranty work for Lindsay Transport is done at Brown & Hurley’s Coffs Harbour dealership while the regular servicing and maintenance is done by Lindsay Transport at its Coffs Harbour workshop. The relationship between the two companies began in the 1970s and Graham describes it as a SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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RISE OF THE REAR-STEER
REAR GUARD ACTION Rearmost steering axles are not a new thing. In fact, they’ve been around for decades. But what makes these machines so popular? Words: Ronnie Hitchens
D
uring the 1970s and 80s on the Continent – in the Alps especially – rear-steer axles were commonplace on fouraxle rigids. Their first regular appearances in the UK were in the early 1990s when rear-steered three-axle trucks found favour with brewery and milk tanker operators. Today, rear-steers feature on 32
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Photographs: Karl Hopkinson
all manner of exotic axle configurations to satisfy a wide range of exacting applications. It was just before the new millennium that rear-steers really grew in popularity, with operators of 18-tonne GVW trucks, quick to grasp the advantages of a move up to 26-tonnes with a rear-steering axle. They could still execute deliveries in those hard-to-reach places, but they could do it with a much greater payload;
around five tonnes more in fact, 50% over and above an 18-tonner. A fan of the FAN In the hands of a skilful driver a 6x2 rearsteer is a remarkably capable truck and today, for DAF at least, it’s a favourite on tanker operations, builders’ merchants work and distribution generally. Indeed, rear-steer chassis make-up a full third of DAF Trucks’ three and four-axle rigid
RISE OF THE REAR-STEER
distribution. Thanks to this wellbalanced axle capacity, the 8x4 remains inherently stable, thus offering good ride and handling characteristics; on and off-road. DAF’s own ‘FAD’ 8x4 – in either urban friendly ‘haulage’ or more robust ‘Construction’ specification – has proved enormously popular with tipper operators. More recently, the basic 8x4 chassis has mutated into 8x2 and, subsequently, four-axle ‘tridem’ configurations – again, to provide operators with application-specific solutions. Primarily, the addition of rear-steer capability offers greater manoeuvrability, but also improved fuel consumption and, as a bonus, less tyre wear. But it’s where the axles are positioned on the chassis rails that can add real utility to the four-axle configuration. DAF’s ‘FAX’ 8x2 chassis – introduced to the UK market in 2004 – is a steer-steerdrive-steer set-up and was the first rear-steering eight-wheeler in DAF’s UK range. It’s gone on to become a popular truck for more specialist applications, typically for portacabin work, or contractors to farms where access can be slippery but usually firm underfoot. The FAX has even started to be used for tipper and mixer applications in the last few years. It offers an incredibly impressive turning circle for such a relatively long wheel-base – a full 2m less kerb-to-kerb than a standard 8x4.
sales. With air suspension enabling axle lift and traction assist, a driver can make deft use of the in-cab controls to maintain traction on slippery surfaces, meaning the traditional double-drive is only really needed on especially soft or rough ground. DAF’s ‘FAN’ 6x2 rear-steer is one of the UK market-leader’s most popular models in its three-axle rigid line-up. Also available are ‘FAR’, ‘FAG’ and ‘FAS’ 6x2 configurations; all boasting various axle functionality to offer operators a nocompromise solution, including single and dual-mounted tag axles, centresteers and lifting axles. A 6x4 ‘FAT’ double-drive chassis completes DAF’s
three-axle rigid line-up and is ideal for mixer bodies. And then there were four As technology advances, so too do truck manufacturers’ ability to design and build ever more complex vehicles – driven by customer demand, of course. Four-axle rigids, specifically 8x4s, have been ever present on UK roads for many decades. And, for construction operators today, the 32-tonne GVW 8x4 tipper with a rear double-drive bogie is the go-to truck for ‘muckaway’ work. It can carry up to 20-tonnes of payload across its four axles and, importantly, is accommodating of uneven load
Follow-my-leader Technology governing rear-steering axles has certainly advanced in recent years, too. In 2017, DAF introduced its Electro Hydraulic Steering (EHS) system – and with it a step-change in steering control. EHS replaced DAF’s previous EMAS (Electronic Multi Axle Steering) system and is a considerably less complicated and more reliable piece of kit – it’s also lightweight, maintenance-free, and it contributes to lower fuel consumption. The system takes a steering angle input from the first axle, so that the rearmost axle tracks precisely the direction of the vehicle, while progressively minimising the steering input as vehicle speed increases. Above 30mph, the rear steering angle is locked in the straightahead position. DAF also offers a non-rear-steering SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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RISE OF THE REAR-STEER
DAF’s new ‘FAW’ 8x4 chassis in tridem configuration. The steer-drive-drive-steer set-up provides 32-tonne GVW productivity with 6x4 handling and manoeuvrability.
‘FAC’ 8x2 chassis with a dual-mounted rearmost axle, for operators where weight is a primary concern. Tride(m) and tested So-called ‘tridems’ take the concept of the four-axle rigid a stage further. The basic premise is that three axles are grouped towards the rear of the chassis. In the UK, this arrangement can operate at 24-tonnes over the rear tridem arrangement, and on DAF’s ‘FAQ’ model, outstanding manoeuvrability is achieved courtesy of its three steering axles. This configuration is of great appeal to operators concerned with heavy rearmost loads or, for example, rear-mounted crane equipment, and where manoeuvrability is paramount. The FAQ’s single-drive element means minimal tyre scrub and reduced damage to surfaces – ideal for on-road and firm off-road work. The FAQ is a favourite for bulk animal feed tippers that deliver to small and remote farms. For all this highly impressive engineering, tridems are sensitive to load 34
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distribution. Whereas standard eightwheelers are largely tolerant of uneven loads, the physics of a tridem dictate accurate distribution of weight between the vehicle’s front and rear ends, hence its specification should be for applications where manoeuvrability is key and where weight distribution is largely predictable. What’s the new ‘FAW’ for? To further expand the potential uses for tridems, DAF believes it has struck the optimum balance between on/off road traction and high manoeuvrability, by introducing a newcomer to its tridem stable – the highly innovative new ‘FAW’ chassis – benefiting from a robust double-drive bogie and rearsteer capability. In all respects, it’s a remarkable feat of vehicle engineering and one at which any truck manufacturer would marvel 20-years ago. This capable truck was introduced with a new 10-tonne front-axle which brings additional loading tolerance across the FAW and, incidentally, other configurations in the DAF range.
The FAW is ideally suited for work that takes the vehicle off-road, with particular appeal to operators who may have previously used a 6x4 26-tonner and who wish to retain a high degree of manoeuvrability. The FAW delivers outstanding manoeuvrability, but, by moving up to 32-tonnes GVW, offers the advantage of an extra five tonnes of payload; tippers and mixers that need to negotiate narrow rural lanes or congested city streets being ideally suited. Spoilt for choice You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s too much to choose from, but such are the diverse demands from operators today. There are no less than 71 base models in the current DAF LF, CF and XF ranges – and myriad individual cabtrim levels and options. Operators today demand the right tool for the job and truck manufacturers invariably respond with a, ‘yes, we can do that’. It’s certainly true of DAF Trucks’ multi-axle rigid range which is as diverse today as it has ever been.
RISE OF THE REAR-STEER
OPERATOR EXPERIENCE CRS Builders’ merchant CRS recently added four DAF CF 370 FAN rigids to its fast-growing fleet of DAFs. Transport Manager, Paul Gibbard, had looked closely at DAF 18-tonne models already on the fleet, but decided the weight and body length options of the 26-tonner offered greater operational flexibility. “We have spec’d the 26-tonne trucks to have the same overall chassis-lengths as the 18-tonners, but with our 6.1m internal body-length, we can get greater payload,” he says. “For instance, on our 18-tonners we get five packs of blocks, the 26-tonners take nine, no problem. They run comfortably with 13-tonnes on board and that gives us greater options on delivery schedules: we can make more drops per run, saving time and, just as important, saving significantly on fuel. “With the drive axle relatively close to the steer – and with the steered tag axle – we find drivers are able to make speedier and more accurate drops in even the tightest of sites,” adds Paul.
and reliability reports about DAFs from friends in transport and decided to talk to my local dealer, Ford & Slater… I was determined to see what all the fuss was about and try a DAF CF 410 and particularly the tridem configuration. “This is almost all about payload and manoeuvrability,” adds Ashley. “We have always been delighted with Whale Tankers, and the bonus now is that our drivers love the DAF cab. Then there’s its overall performance, both fuel and reliability. We don’t expect record-breaking fuel figures on our sort of work, what with the pumping and other PTO work, but I am happy that the DAF is doing well. Very well.”
RT Nelson Livestock transport specialist, RT Nelson in East Anglia, has taken on a top-spec, XF 530 with DAF’s FAX 8x2 axle configuration – the first model of its kind in the UK – with a 28ft triple-deck ‘Platinum’ livestock box designed and fitted by Houghton Parkhouse. “We’re really pleased with the truck’s capability, it can get in anywhere, even with the big XF Super Space Cab. It’s more manoeuvrable than our smaller DAF CF eight-wheeler and Super Singles help with stability too,” explains Jon Symons, Transport Manager. “It’s really easy to load. It’s just tailormade for the job. Everything about the vehicle is ideally suited to the operation. Farmers and other local operators are interested to see how it’s performing, and I’m delighted to report that it’s doing just fine thank-you!”
DM Boyles DM Boyles is a family-owned liquid waste management operator based in Market Rasen. It took delivery recently of a CF 410 FAQ with a rear ‘tridem’ bogie arrangement – the first tridem vehicle on the fleet. The truck is fitted with a stainlesssteel vacuum tanker body with a nominal 4500-gallon capacity by Whale Tankers. The company was finding its restricted collection points becoming an increasing problem. “Eight-wheelers [8x4s] are the worst thing in the world to get in anywhere, and the double-drive models are like sailing a super-tanker,” says boss Ashley Boyles. “I had heard a lot of really good fuel, comfort SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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RISE OF THE REAR-STEER
G.Owen & Sons One of the first-ever recipients of a DAF tridem was G.Owen & Sons in Newtown, mid-Wales. The CF 440 FAQ was acquired for the company’s bulk feeds operation and was also a new
On the road…and off!
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concept for the customer, as it sought a solution to multi-drop deliveries into tight farmyards. “Our local DAF dealer, Greenhous DAF in Shrewsbury, spent a lot of time talking to us and understanding our need,” recalls company Director, Dan Owen. “We had six-wheel bulkers which had been fine, but they only take up to 14.5-tonnes, with the option for up to four individual loads in four bins within the body. That’s OK for more local drops, but when you cover huge and largely rural areas across Wales and a fair bit of nearby England, it starts to become uneconomic and inefficient. “This DAF CF 440 FAQ will carry up to 19-tonnes, split across five individual bins in the body, so we can carry more and make more economical drops from the one truck,” says Dan. “All we needed was the steer capability to guarantee us good manoeuvrability in tight areas – and that has been delivered as well by DAF’s FAQ axle configuration.” Read the next issue of DAF Driver magazine for an exclusive first drive of the new DAF XF480 FAW Tridem.
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CLASSIC TRUCKS
Words and Photographs: Kieron Fennelly
END OF LIFE CARE Join DAF Driver magazine on a tour around Rush Green Motors, home to a plethora of pre-loved vehicles
D
eep in the Hertfordshire countryside is one of Britain’s largest truck graveyards. Rush Green Motors grew from trading military surplus vehicles in the post-war years and today occupies a discreet, but extensive, site that runs to over 50 acres.
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Famously, some of the trucks in the outlying parts of Rush Green have lain there undisturbed for several decades. “We are commercial vehicle dealers,” explains the proprietor, who wishes to remain anonymous. “We do dismantle vehicles and sell spares, but our intention has always been to sell; we have never bought vehicles to just break up.” That said, a certain amount of salvaging
inevitably goes on – witnessed by vast piles of gearboxes, axles and even steering wheels. On the other hand, there are many, many whole vehicles waiting for new owners. Some trucks have waited decades and are still waiting…. Enthusiasts do appear and he lets trucks go, says the proprietor, but you do have the impression that such takers are not that frequent. He explains that often, Rush Green’s huge stocks came about because the market changed. Trailers, for example. “We’d take in 28ft trailers because when the regulation allowed 32ft, nobody wanted the 28s anymore. Then the same thing happened with 32s when 40ft trailers came in.” Varied customer base Rush Green has itself built well over 200 trailers down the years, though it turns out rather fewer now than it did 40 years ago. Those were the boom times - large scale construction was going on everywhere both in the UK and
CLASSIC TRUCKS
Look hard enough when you visit Rush Green Motors and you’ll find a metaphorical diamond in the rough
overseas and projects needed specialist and low bed trailers. Wimpey for example took Rush Green trailers and former Commonwealth countries, such as Nigeria and Ghana, were customers for its trucks too. “Africa’s come back a bit in recent years, but they only want cheap stuff now,” says the owner. Stories that Kenya, for example, converts 6x2 tractors to 4x2 through the simple expedient of removing the middle non-drive axle have more than a ring of truth. Rush Green still makes a small number of trailers for the MoD, though at another site. Customers tend to be long-standing – the firm has supplied Dennisons with axles and parts from the Irish trailer maker’s earliest days, yet the owner was surprised how insistent George Dennison was for him to come to the company’s 50th celebrations in County Dublin in 2014; amongst a hundred or so guests he was touched to be seated at the table with the Dennison family. Rush Green greats The oldest relics at Rush Green are 1950s stalwarts, a Leyland Comet an
AEC Mammoth Major and an Albion, but most trucks date from the 1960s – the earliest, probably a handful of Scammell Highwayman 4x2 tractors in a very sad state. Look carefully and you find examples of Seddons and Atkinsons before those firms merged, a glass fibre BRS Bristol cab and the inevitable Fodens and ERFs. All appear beyond recuperation; the 1970s has a much wider selection
including scores of Bedford TKs – Luton, after all, is barely ten miles away. This was the decade when people began to arrive in Britain from other countries in significant numbers and MAN, Saviem and even Berliet cabs are all visible. Various former MoD 6x4 Scammell Crusaders appear, as do a number of more recent ex-service 4x2 AWDs. The 1980s feature Volvos, Seddon Atkinsons,
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CLASSIC TRUCKS
Motor Panels cabbed Fodens and a lone Ford Transcontinental. While the following decade has one or two Ivecos and a fine collection of Leyland DAFs, some seemingly in surprisingly good repair. Many of Rush Green’s ’02’ and later plated trucks look as if they could simply drive off again under their own steam, as it were. A long wheelbase 4x2 Renault Premium complete with imposing light bars, appears as if it has just escaped from its rental company owner. who will duly come and collect it when he discovers where it is hiding. Scania 260 and Dennis refuse trucks show only moderate signs of use and many of these later vehicles will find new homes, though pre Euro 3 trucks, if they leave Rush Green, are likely to end up in Africa or Eastern Europe.
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Next steps? The Proprietor of Rush Green Motors has worked at the site, he says, man and boy for 50 years. What of the future, though? He is understandably coy: recycling is changing, environmental norms and land use requirements are evolving – specifically trucks with ever more complex electronic engine management systems will surely require dedicated dismantling protocols in the not too distant future. Its owner would probably assent that his enterprise is unlikely to exist in its present form in say another 50 years. The situation is reminiscent of a certain Dai Woodhams who ran a railside scrapyard at Barry in South Wales. In the mid-1960s, for political reasons, British Railways was decommissioning its steam
engine fleet at an unprecedented rate. Railway scrapyards worked overtime to cut them up. Except Dai: he was busy dismantling railway wagons so he left almost 200 steam engines in his sidings. Then, as preservation enthusiasts began to come along, he realised he could flog these engines whole, as by accident rather than design, he had become their sole source. By the mid-1980s virtually all the engines had found homes on preserved railways and Dai’s nowfamous yard, had been given over to redevelopment. Rush Green Motors has any number of historically interesting trucks: let’s hope that like Dai Woodhams’s engines, some of them at least will survive long enough to be kept for posterity.
CLASSIC TRUCKS
An eclectic mix of former road-going trucks and military vehicles can be found on the site, which covers more than 50 acres
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From 26th October 2020, ALL goods vehicles over 12 tonnes will require a permit to enter London.
Direct Vision Standard Are you ready?
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Brigade Electronics has a range of products to comply with the DVS requirements For comprehensive information about the reqirements of the Direct Vision Standard and how we can help you comply; visit our website or give us a call.
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DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
01322 420300 Samantha’s Diner
Docklands truckstop and truckwash Samantha’s Diner
Docklands truckstop and truckwash
SIMPSON SAYS
AFTER THE COVID CRISIS COMES THE TESTING CRISIS
It’s been unprecedented times for everyone during the pandemic. As the country emerges out of the other side, it’s time to look after the vehicles that helped keep the country going, says Richard Simpson By Richard Simpson, industry pundit
T
he world is slowly returning to some kind of normality as these words are being written, with increasing numbers of vehicles on the road, and shops enjoying at least limited opening. Already, it seems, people are starting to forget the key role played by truck drivers and operators in keeping the country supplied through the lock-down: trucks are back to being regarded as nothing more than mobile chicanes on the road, which are driven about for the fun of it. A friend who works in retail tells me that he and his colleagues are being abused by returning shoppers because not everything that they want to buy is actually in stock: the implications of a global shutdown of factories and warehouses seems not to have been understood by some, who obviously think that consumer goods materialise out of thin air in a mysterious facility at the back of the shop. And if they are not on the shelves, then that can only be the fault of those whose job it is to put them on the shelves. No matter. The distribution
chain is used to working miracles while being castigated. The most amazing thing about the covid crisis is that the shops didn’t run out of food, and no one actually starved as a result. There may have been problems with the availability of individual items, but most shops had mostly full shelves at least at the start of each working day. And that performance is down not just to the skill and competence of truck drivers and operators, but also their support networks. Along with the other manufacturers, DAF kept its parts and service network functioning, indeed some DAF technicians found themselves working on paramedic cars and ambulances rather than LFs, CFs and XFs as the network stepped up to support the NHS. A tremendous performance from the entire DAF family. But one part of the workshops remained quiet: the ATF test lanes. DVSA suspended vehicle testing, on the grounds that it exposed its staff to an unacceptable risk of infection. Now, testing has resumed. But the test programme is still beset by delay. Vehicles which should
have been tested in March may not now be seen until the end of September, and tests due in April can be postponed until October. Those due for test in August, can run until the end of November! This is very strange. Normally, the authorities take vehicle testing very seriously. Before the covid crisis, just one test failure in a fleet could have serious repercussions for an operator’s licence, because unroadworthy vehicles are deemed a serious safety hazard by DVSA. Equally, testing is so important that it can only be carried out by DVSA officials. Even at the height of the crisis, the decision to suspend testing for all but a few vehicles seems a little odd. Up to half the national fleet was parked up for at least some of the time, and surely it would have been possible for DVSA testers to don additional protective gear to enable them to look after the rest (testers already wear gloves and overalls, so the only extra requirement would have been a mask). Surely, in these circumstances, it should be possible to let
workshops that already run Authorised Testing Facilities have a go at tackling the tests themselves, using trained and accredited technicians wearing appropriate PPE? To avoid a possible conflict of interest, it could be stipulated that the actual test must be conducted at an ATF that wasn’t run by the truck operator’s nominated maintenance provider. Shortages of DVSA testers were already causing issues with test availability: truck workshops had installed the lanes but were struggling to get the DVSA testers to attend even before the covid crisis. DVSA is running an apprenticeship to train heavy vehicle testers who have not previously worked in the industry, but it is not certain when, if ever, it will deliver trained personnel in sufficient numbers to replace the natural wastage in the system, let alone expand capacity. Dealer-employed qualified technicians might not be quite as good or impartial as independent DVSA testers, but that backlog of untested vehicles is going to have to be shifted sooner or later and a slightly imperfect test is surely better than no test at all. SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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COMPETITION WINNERS
COMPETITION WINNERS THE STRONGMAN’S STORY In the last issue of DAF Driver Magazine, Eddie Hall kindly donated two signed copies of his book as competion prizes: The answer was: 500kg Winners:
Diane Spooner Kevin Claridge Congratulations, your prizes are on their way!
MODEL TRUCKS
EVERY CLOUD… To coincide with the arrival of the new 25th Anniversary DAF XF Demo fleet, DAF Trucks UK have commissioned a very special ‘mini’ version of the new DAF XF530 FTG from Tekno Models NV. Finished in exactly the same colour and livery as its real life counterpart, the model is a miniature replica and features all of the fine details you would expect with all of Tekno Models’ 1/50 scale range. And this UK specific truck is right hand drive. From the chrome alloy wheels to the chrome air horns
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DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
The latest arrival on the DAF Trucks fleet is an exclusive little number everything is captured in fine detail. An Anniversary fifth wheel cover is also included. Like most of the latest Tekno range all mirrors are already attached to the model. The model is presented in a stylish presentation box complete with inlay featuring the real vehicle and ‘25 years’ of market leadership logo. To complete the headline, this model really does have a ‘Silver lining’. ■
COMPETITION In association with
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Your chance to win fantastic prizes every issue
HOW TO WIN: DAF Trucks have supplied a 1:50 scale model DAF XF Tractor unit in 25th anniversary livery. 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: 25th September 2020
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: Michael Begley, Co. Londonderry
Winner’s details to appear in the Autumn issue of DAF Driver magazine
Special note: Would the winner from the Spring 2020 spot the difference competition, Thomas Fennelly of Co. Kildare please contact the magazine as we want to deliver your prize. See contact details above.
SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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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 SUMMER 2020
A PACCAR COMPANY DRIVEN BY QUALITY
45273 Map DPS 275x420 Advert 08.20.indd 1
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45273
● 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
Area ABERDEEN ASHFORD BRISTOL CARDIFF CARLISLE CROYDON DERBY EDINBURGH GLASGOW GLOUCESTER GRAYS 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 ★▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲◆ Watts Truck & Van Cardiff ★ Solway DAF ★ HTC Croydon ★ MOTUS Commercials ▲ Lothian DAF ★▲ MOTUS Commercials MOTUS Commercials Harris DAF ★▲◆ Barnes DAF MOTUS Commercials ★▲ HTC Heathrow ▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲ Chassis-Cab Ltd ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Leeds ▲◆ Ford & Slater DAF ★ North West Trucks ▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲◆ Brian Currie ▲ Kingdon Wessex Newton Abbot TBF Thompson DAF ★ Ford & Slater DAF ★▲◆ Lancashire DAF ★▲ HTC Reading ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Sheffield ▲ Greenhous DAF ▲ Adams Morey Ltd ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Stockton ★▲◆ MOTUS Commercials Greenhous DAF ★▲
Postcode AB23 8JZ TN23 1EH BS2 OQP CF11 8AT CA3 0HD CR0 4TD DE22 4NB EH20 9QH G51 4TH GL2 5FD RM20 4AU 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 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 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 NN11 8RF CH5 2QJ DN6 7BA DN8 4JD DG2 0JE DD2 4UH TD11 3HS LU5 4TP BN23 6PW IV30 6UH BA11 2FD BT51 5JZ DN31 2TG GY1 6DP HP2 7YU HR4 8DS HP12 4HS LL65 4RJ
Telephone 01235 531004 01282 773377 01292 269002 01295 270072 01226 731870 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 01327 871770 01244 521643 01302 727040 01405 740086 01387 720820 01382 611166 01361 883411 01582 505464 01323 745700 01343 547121 01373 464524 02829 558353 01472 362929 01481 244551 01442 835670 01432 763900 01494 465464 01407 721197
● 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 BASINGSTOKE BEDFORD BELLSHILL BELVEDERE BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM BIRTLEY BLACKWELL BOURNEMOUTH BUCKINGHAM BURY ST EDMUNDS CAMBORNE CAMBRIDGE CANTERBURY CARNFORTH CASTLEFORD CHESTERFIELD CONWY CORBY COVENTRY CRAWLEY CUMBERNAULD DAVENTRY DEESIDE DONCASTER DONCASTER DUMFRIES DUNDEE DUNS DUNSTABLE EASTBOURNE ELGIN FROME GARVAGH GRIMSBY GUERNSEY HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HEREFORD HIGH WYCOMBE HOLYHEAD
Dealer name R P Cherry & Son Ltd Lynch Truck Services Ltd MOTUS Commercials ▲ GB DAF Banbury MOTUS Commercials ▲ Adams Morey Ltd Brian Currie MOTUS Commercials HTC Belvedere ★ Greenhous DAF ▲ MOTUS Commercials ★ Evans Halshaw DAF Birtley ★▲◆ H W Martin (Plant) Ltd Adams Morey Ltd ★ Ring Road Garage ▲ Chassis-Cab Ltd Kingdon Wessex Camborne 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 MOTUS Commercials ★ Brian Currie MOTUS Commercials MOTUS Commercials ▲ Fishlake Commercials Ltd ▲◆ Solway DAF Norscot Truck & Van Ltd ▲ J E Douglas and Sons ▲ HTC Dunstable Brewers DAF Sheriffmill Motor Co Ltd MOTUS Commercials ▲ TBF Thompson DAF MOTUS Commercials ◆ Rabeys Garage Ltd HTC Hemel ▲ MOTUS Commercials Euroway DAF ★▲ Holyhead 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
Area INVERNESS ISLE OF MAN ISLEHAM JERSEY KETTERING KINGS LANGLEY KING’S LYNN KIRKCALDY LINCOLN LIVERPOOL MACCLESFIELD MELBOURN NARBERTH NEWARK NEWPORT 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 WALTHAM CROSS WARWICK WIGAN WISBECH WITHAM WORCESTER WORKINGTON WREXHAM YORK
Dealer name Norscot Truck & Van Ltd Wade’s Truck Services ★ Universal Garage DAF ★▲ Rabeys F W Abbott Ltd ▲ CCS Ford & Slater DAF Drummond Motor Co Ltd Ford & Slater DAF MTC Northwest Ltd ▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲ Foulger’s (CVS) Ltd ▲ G D Harries ▲◆ Ford & Slater DAF ▲ Watts Truck & Van Newport ▲ Brian Currie North West Trucks ★ MOTUS Commercials ▲ MOTUS Commercials HTC Oxford ★▲ HTC Park Royal Solway DAF Norscot Truck & Van Ltd ★ Ford & Slater DAF ▲ Kingdon Wessex Saltash TBF Thompson DAF Adams Morey Ltd ▲ Kettlewell Commercials Ltd Ford & Slater DAF Adams Morey Ltd MOTUS Commercials Channel Commercials PLC ▲ Barnes DAF ★ Ford & Slater DAF ▲◆ Channel Commercials PLC ★ MOTUS Commercials Watts Truck & Van Swansea ★ MOTUS Commercials ▲◆ Greenhous DAF Kingdon Wessex Taunton Greenhous DAF ▲ Harris DAF ★▲ MOTUS Commercials ◆ Woodwards Truck and Van Centre Ford & Slater Ltd ▲ Harris Truck & Van Ltd ▲ MOTUS Commercials ▲ Solway DAF MOTUS Commercials MOTUS Commercials
Postcode IV1 1SG IM9 2AQ CB7 5PW JE2 7GR NN15 6NL WD4 8JA PE34 3AH KY1 2YX LN4 2NQ L33 7XS SK11 0JB SG8 6DF SA67 8RG NG24 2NZ NP10 9HZ 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 EN8 7PG CV35 9JY WN3 6PQ PE13 2TQ CM8 3UJ WR5 3HR CA14 4JH LL14 4DP YO30 4XA
Telephone 01463 712000 01624 825559 01638 780642 01534 862304 01536 517704 01923 262199 01553 764466 01592 653485 01522 518170 0151 545 4750 01260 253232 01763 262826 01834 862436 01636 701673 01633 891991 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 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 34 DUBLIN
Dealer name DAF Distributors Ireland Ltd ★
Road No. Dublin 22
Telephone 00 353 1403 4141
● Parts and Service Dealers Republic of Ireland 96 97 98 99
Area CAVAN CORK DUBLIN GALWAY
Dealer name Interparts Drumalee Ltd DAF Truck Services Cork Ltd North Dublin Commercials Ltd Galway Truck & Van Centre Ltd
Road No. N3 N20 M1 N84
Telephone 00 353 49 433 1777 00 353 21 430 1202 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
SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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DO YOU COMPLY WITH THE
DIRECT VISION STANDARD? From 26 October 2020, all goods vehicles over 12 tonnes, regardless of their star rating, will be required to have a permit to access London with enforcement commencing from February 2021. Those vehicles which meet the one-star rating, will be automatically eligible for a permit, but will still need to apply for one and those which are zero-star rated will need to prove that they meet the requirements of the Safe System.
2. WARNING ALARMS Audible vehicle manoeuvring warning shall be fitted to audibly warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left.
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THERE ARE TWO ROUTES TO OBTAINING THIS SAFETY PERMIT: B. Your vehicle is rated A. Your vehicle is rated zero-star, but you against the Direct have fitted the Safe Vision Standard (DVS) System. and achieves a star rating of one or more.
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2
1
1. ULTRASONIC OBSTACLE DETECTION A sensor system alerting the driver to the presence of a VRU shall be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle.
WATCH
DVS KIT BEING INSTALLED You can see a film covering the installation of the DVS system on the DAF CF on YouTube by using the following link https://youtu.be/m2ukKxt3c7U 48
DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
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WHAT DO DRIVERS
The DVS Kits available through TRP from all DAF Dealers include all the following:
THINK OF DVS?
• Select range 7” Digital LCD Monitor 3 & 4. CAMERA MONITOR SYSTEMS A fully operational Camera Monitoring System shall be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle offering comprehensive blind spot coverage.
• Select range flush mount side-view camera • Surface mounting adapter • Select camera 5 metre cable • Cornerscan® sensor system - Mute Function • Sidescan® turn indication trigger • Low speed trigger module (12-24v)
5. ULTRASONIC OBSTACLE DETECTION RECOMMENDATION We also recommend additional front sensors with coverage.
• Speaking alarm • Latched cut-out switch for speaking alarm • Buzzer/display extension cable 2.5m • UDS Sensor Sleeve • UDS Sensor Mount & Pad Kit
We recently asked Maxi Haulage if they would review the DVS Camera Kit system in action. After fitting the equipment onto one of their DAF CF trucks, Maxi chose Nick Perry, one of their team of drivers, to review the system out on the road. Those vehicles which meet the one-star rating, will be “As a driver I understand how The system is activated automatically eligible for when a permit, important safety is, particularly automatically I indicate to but will still need with increasing number of cyclists turn left, so I don’t have to do to apply and those on the roads, especially in thefor oneanything extra to which activate it. The willis really need toand gives me current climate.are zero-star rated monitor clear that they meet thedown the left-hand Saying thatprove I have to be honest, a good view the idea of yetrequirements another camera of side of the vehicle, where normally system and alarm my cabSystem. didn’t I wouldn’t have seen anything. theinSafe exactly fill me with joy. However, Overall, I feel Maxi Haulage have when the camera was installed taken the time to protect us as along with the monitor and ‘alert drivers and I have peace of mind for turning left’ I realised that that other more vulnerable road complying with the new DVS users will be safer as a result.” regulations is protecting me just NICK PERRY as much as it is other road users. MAXI HAULAGE DRIVER
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ENSURE YOUR FLEET COMPLIES WITH THE DIRECT VISION STANDARD 13:16
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WHAT IF YOU COULD USE
AN ONLINE VISUAL SEARCH FOR PARTS AND TECHNICAL DRAWINGS FOR YOUR TRUCKS AND TRAILERS? 50
WHAT IF YOU COULD
✓ Immediately see price
and stock information on those parts at your local DAF Dealer?
✓ Search for any part
number for any brand, and see the DAF or TRP part numbers with alternatives and related parts?
✓ Order the parts
you need 24/7?
YOU CAN!
DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
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DAF WEBSHOP offers users all the functionality in our cutting-edge Parts ordering platform for our dealers, our fleet operators and our customers.
DAF WEBSHOP allows customers to search for DAF & TRP parts in a whole host of different ways from entering a DAF registration number or vehicle VIN number through to searching by part number or part description. The user can look at parts diagrams and shop for parts based on price or quality, depending on the age of vehicle.
Choose how you want to find the parts you need
DAF WEBSHOP also includes its TRP All Makes Truck and Trailer parts range which covers all trucks in the market, including older DAF trucks. It’s a brand that has grown exponentially over the past three years as our product managers bring exciting new brands and products to our aftermarket range.
DAF WEBSHOP allows the user to scan parts numbers from parts, boxes or hand-written notes with a smart phone. Simply scan the part number from a part or box using your smart phone
Full specification details and images ensure you order the right part
DAF WEBSHOP Orders are delivered through the largest dealer network in the UK, with most fast-moving items in stock for same day delivery.
Currently, our DAF WEBSHOP plays host to almost 180,000 individual parts, over 100,000 of which are DAF, the remainder being made up of our ever expanding TRP Truck and Trailer parts range, which includes an impressive range of workshop consumables and lubricants.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
IMPREST STOCK? Features also includes: ✓ Easy navigation with categorised parts ✓ Easy parts identification ✓ Multiple ways of finding the parts you need including using registration or chassis number, parts search and Tec Doc ✓ Ability to scan parts numbers from parts, boxes or handwritten notes with a smart phone
✓ Cross reference from part number entered to DAF or TRP equivalent parts ✓ Favourite list of frequently purchased parts for ordering in a couple of clicks ✓ Pricing and availability details clearly presented for ordering and delivery
Talk to your local dealer about the possibility of installing imprest stock – held on your premises ready whenever needed by your workshop technicians, keeping maintenance time to a minimum so your trucks and trailers stay on the road for longer. Your dealer will keep the stock levels constant automatically, and you only pay for parts as you use them.
IF YOU’D LIKE A WEBSHOP DEMONSTRATION, OR TO SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE ACCOUNT, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DAF DEALER. SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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TRAINER’S NOTES
TRAINING AT A DISTANCE DAF Driver Training Manager, Mandy Wannerton, explains how learning has changed – but continued – through the pandemic
Above: The pandemic has thrown up brand new challenges for the DAF Trucks training team Below: The ‘new normal’ means more care and cleanliness in the classroom
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W
e have lots of on-line and printed training materials at DAF to help drivers get to grips with their new truck, but there’s nothing better for a trainer than spending time with a driver. Ideally it would be one-to-one and out on the road, to ensure you have explained things fully and the driver can put into practice all they have learnt. However, as Covid–19 made its ugly presence known and countries were locked down, activities were curtailed and social distancing became the norm. This situation meant that the way we train was effectively also shut down and we had to rethink and adapt what we do. Of course, most training was initially cancelled or put on hold, but as business has started to return, so has the need for training. And so we have had to adapt our way of working. Taking into account government guidelines and DAF’s own policies, a number of changes were implemented to ensure safety for anyone attending a driver training course, or undertaking driver training at their own premises. The classroom was probably the easiest to change and manage. Smaller class sizes with 2m distance between desks are in place, along with one-way systems around the classroom. Course material is posted to the delegate before the course, leaving plenty of time for the quarantine process. Individual refreshments are provided rather than
using shared jugs and bottles. Course attendees are asked to bring their own packed lunches. Delegates are also asked to wear gloves while handling training equipment, such as the digital tachograph demonstration unit. Any such equipment is wiped down in between each use. Any stationery or materials used during the training are returned to a box for disinfection before the next use, as is the classroom itself. In-cab training and handovers require more attention. Covid-19 or no Covid-19, handovers are still extremely important and a safe process needs to be followed. Other than maintaining social distancing, the external handover hasn’t changed that much, and the explanation of in cab switches and controls can safely be carried out by sharing what the driver can see over the phone using technology such as WhatsApp. Due to the 2m rule, demonstration and in-cab training was initially suspended, but with the relaxation to 1m with mitigation, it is now possible. Fresh air is important, so keeping the windows open where possible – together with the wearing of masks – can help while in the cab. And it goes without saying that all contact points are disinfected after use. With these steps in place, we can all stay safe while learning from each other. And, of course, there are a number of videos to support on-road training and the period after the vehicle handover. Also, if required, the driver and their truck can be monitored and coached via telematics-based systems. It’s strange how quickly we have accepted this ‘new normal’ and as things change, so will our training practices. But one thing that won’t change is that we will always be here to help. Mandy x
MEET THE TRAINERS
CHARLIE JOHNSTON DAF now has Dealer Driver Trainers based across the country to help hand over new and used vehicles. Charlie Johnston is the DAF Dealer Driver Trainer for Norscot Truck & Van in Aberdeen Q: When did you first join Norscot Truck & Van and what was your first job there? A: I joined Norscot in May 2018 as a Driver Trainer. It’s been quite a steep learning curve, which has definitely been made easier with the comprehensive training from DAF, our close-knit sales team and our very knowledgeable workshop.
Charlie and his wife Debbie have three children: twin boys Craig and Ryan and a daughter, Laura. Craig is at University and Ryan is serving an HGV technician’s apprenticeship with Norscot Truck and Van. Laura has just finished her final year at school. Charlie and his family have two dogs and have recently renewed their caravan, so will be enjoying weekends away once lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
Q: What did you want to be when you were at school? A: I always wanted to be a joiner when at school but, to be honest, I was probably always going to end up in a career involving trucks. My father was a truck driver all his life and my brother and I were always ‘helping’ him when we were younger. Q: When did you take your HGV licence? A: I passed my HGV test in 1995, which, I believe, was the last year you could go straight through your Class 1. Now you obviously have the theory and Class 2 tests to sit first. Q: What do you enjoy most about your role? A: Working as part of the sales team and meeting drivers (no driver is the same). If you can make a wee difference to their daily drive it is very satisfying. Q: Do you have a top tip for a driver getting his new DAF? A: Approach the technology with an open mind. The features are there for your benefit and will be an advantage to both the driver and the economy of the vehicle if used. This will also help the driver enjoy their new truck. Q: What car do you currently drive and, if money was no object, what car would you have? A: I currently drive a company Ford Transit Connect van. If money was no object a Porsche 911 or an Aston Martin DB6. Q: What other responsibilities do you have at Lothian DAF? A: I move vehicles within various depots, bodybuilders and paint shops. I’m also responsible for forklift training within the Norscot Group. Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would your ideal job be? A: This job really is my ideal job – meeting people (there are some real characters) and hopefully being a bit of help to them is very satisfying. SUMMER 2020 DAF DRIVER
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HYVA (UK) LTD Manchester M17 1PN t: 0161 776 6600 e: info@hyva.co.uk www.hyva.com DL-6006 Hyva Advert Skip/Handy Half Page C.M. FINAL.indd 1
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Wilcox Commercial Vehicles - THE ORIGINAL AND STILL THE BEST Supporting the DAF ready to go vehciles with CIFA concrete mixers and steel & aluminium tippers .
For more information on what is ready contact our sales team Office : 01778 345151 Email : sales@tippers.co.uk Website : www.wilcox.uk.com
HANDY, THAT! Blenheim Way, Market Deeping, Peterborough, PE6 8LD
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DAF DRIVER WINTER 2019/20
A PERFEC T MATCH
HYVA’s unique ‘Handy’ full remote HYVA Skip Loaders are the UK market system makes leaders.control Why? Because they’reskiploader easy to operation saferreliable. and much operate, safe andfaster, moreover Also more morepowerful, efficient. productive and inexpensive to maintain HYVA - Innovations That Deliver.
HYVA - Innovations that deliver
HYVA (UK) LTD Manchester M17 1PN t: 0161 776 6600 e: info@hyva.co.uk www.hyva.com 54
DAF DRIVER SUMMER 2020
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DEL2
DELO®…DURABILITY BY DESIGN When engine and gear oils prematurely thicken, this affects efficiency, emissions, service intervals, wear and overall protection of your vehicle – be it an articulated truck, rigid or light commercial van. Designed for durability, Delo products help prevent this from happening. The Texaco® Delo family of products consistently perform and deliver results throughout their lifetime in your equipment. Welcome to the World of Delo.
To find out more, please contact your DAF dealer.
Learn more at texacodelo.com WINTER 2019/20 SUMMER 2020 DAF DAFDRIVER DRIVER
A Chevron company product
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© 2019 Chevron Products UK Limited. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC or their respective owners. DEL239-0 [DAF_05/19]
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17/05/2019 14:59
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
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26-03-19 08:15