Ramage rely on DAF

A trio of top-of-the-range DAF XF105 tractor units now on the road with North Eastern general hauliers Ramage Transport Limited, mark the company’s first move to automatics.

Robin Ramage, who runs the 80-vehicle Newcastle firm, says that the choice of the AS-tronic automated gearbox was intended to both make the driver’s job easier and to increase safety.

“We also wanted to provide our drivers with a premium vehicle, which will help us to recruit and retain high calibre drivers as well as presenting a good image to our customers,” he said. “The DAF XF105 certainly meets both requirements. It’s a superb looking truck and one that offers a very high level of driver comfort.”

In their stunning silver livery and with twin air horns, roof mounted ‘skylights’ and a full width sun visor, the DAFs certainly look striking. All three – to be followed by a further four later this year – are also fitted with Alcoa bright alloy wheels and have the company’s slogan ‘Rely on Ramage’ emblazoned across the front of the roof.

The trucks are mid-lift axle FTG models with DAF’s Super Space cab. This provides luxurious accommodation for the four nights a week that the drivers will spend in their cab. To ensure a pleasant environment can be maintained, air conditioning and an auxiliary cab heater are included to combat the outside conditions. As priority is given to the driver's working conditions, the vehicles are all equipped with a full in cab entertainment system which includes a CD player and MP3 plug.

Ramage distributes a variety of customer-owned products including packaging materials, chipboard, roof trusses and lamp-posts throughout the UK. This work will be undertaken by the DAFs, which will cover around 150,000 kilometers a year in the process.

Power for the 105s is from the 12.9 litre DAF MX engine rated at 300 kW (410 hp) at between 1500 and 1900 rpm. There’s plenty of torque too, at 2000 Nm across a range of 1000 to 1410 rpm. The engine is matched to the 12-speed automated AS-tronic transmission. A mechanical diff lock, ASR and traction control are standard features.

Ramage Transport was one of the first companies in the North East to operate DAFs. Robin Ramage bought his first DAF 2100 rigid in 1981 and has run the marque ever since. “I find DAFs to be very reliable and fuel efficient,” he says. “And the back-up is second to none with fantastic response times from DAFAid.”

The company will maintain the 105s in their own well-equipped workshop. The trucks were supplied by DAF dealer North West Trucks.