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Truck and Track June/July 2017 26
CONTRACTS & ORDERS – HIGHLIGHTS
Steel haulier Arthur Oakley Transport of Rotherwas, Hereford,
has taken delivery of another four DAF XF 460 FTG 6x2 tractor-
units – the seventh premium duty tractor acquired by the
company since March 1st. The operator continues to replace
its Scania and MAN fleet with DAF XFs, British built and with
AdBlue economy stated as outstanding.
The Leyland Trucks assembly plant near Preston, owned by Paccar,
Inc, is a centre of design and production for its DAF LF range, which
is good to see. The plant also produces UK-registered, right-hand-
drive DAF CF and XF models as well as a significant number of
vehicles for export to markets in Europe and around the globe.
So, more recently, Arthur Oakley Transport has put on the road
a new top-of-the-range DAF XF 510 FTG. All the new DAF XFs are
specified with Super Space cabs and
supplied through the DAF Trucks dealership
Watts Truck & Van of Cardiff.
The Transport Manager at Arthur Oakley,
Steve Underwood, tells us more: “The DAFs
can be away from base for three weeks or
more without requiring an AdBlue top-up.
Our other truckswon’t last a fraction of that
time, and we end up paying a premium for
AdBlue on the forecourt.
“Fuel returns are already more than
acceptable, too, and we’re seeing averages
of 8.5 mpg at maximum weight – that’s
great for our operation.”
Underwood describes three fundamental
reasons for choosing the DAF product –
AdBlue, a single large-capacity fuel tank
and driver insistence on the big DAF XF
cab. Arthur Oakley drivers receive special
training for operations on site at its major
customer’s steel manufacturing locations.
“We give our drivers a big say on the equipment we provide to them
and, when it comes to their trucks, it’s the DAF XF every time. We’ve
run Scania and MAN before, but our drivers insist that the DAF is
where they want to work. And it’s not just the cab: the split fuel tank
on the Scania proved problematic and a real annoyance for the
drivers when refuelling. And, froman operational point-of-view, the
DAF’s AdBlue usage is just brilliant.”
The steel haulier also invests in customSchmitz Cargobull Euroliner
trailers, which it orders direct from the OEM based at Horstmar,
North Rhine-Westphalia.
Steel haulier engineers AdBlue economy with DAF XFs
MAN Truck & Bus UK has delivered 57 units to Tarmac – a
company within the building materials group CRH plc – in
support of its dry powder cement operations across the UK. The
MAN TGS 24.460 6x2/2 BLS L cab tractor units were purchased
afterMANhad performed a successful trial of its Euro VI engine.
Gary Jones, Regional Logistics Manager – South at Tarmac CRH,
stressed: “We wanted to simplify things by going with one supplier
and just one marque for our fleet.
“We have consistent driver training and focus on constantly
improving our high standards of training and fleet safety and
efficiency.
“The MAN dealer network understands the importance of reducing
downtime for the vehicles, and they knowwe want a service where
the vehicles leave us on a Friday evening
and are returned on Saturday ready to go
back on the road.”
Graham Wardley, MAN Fleet Sales
Manager, declared: “It is fabulous to see
MAN on the road with such a prestigious
name as Tarmac CRH, and I am glad we
were able to meet their requirements after
the successful trial of our Euro VI seed
unit. The new trucks also feature the new
Tipmatic 12 gearboxes, which should offer
further fuel savings, reliability and driver
acceptance.
“They are all going to be fleet managed
by TIP Trailer Services, but the extensive
coverage and service provided by the MAN
dealer network have also made MAN an
attractive proposition for the customer.”
MAN preferred for Tarmac’s dry powder cement ops