DAF 18 tonner brings flexibility to builders merchants

The combination of a low weight chassis, a long body and a 9.1 metre reach crane on a new DAF 18 tonner is bringing increased flexibility to the delivery operations of the leading independent builders’ merchants in the South West.

Bradford’s Building Supplies is operating the DAF LF55 out of its Yeovil depot from where it makes deliveries to building sites and domestic premises within a 25 mile radius. The truck makes up to 15 drops a day of a wide range of building materials from bagged sand and aggregates, to bricks, blocks and hard landscaping materials.

The 5.85 metre wheelbase LF55 is fitted with a 6.63 metre long double-dropside body capable of carrying up to 12 pallets or one tonne ‘dumpy’ bags. Sitting right at the back of the truck is an Atlas 105/A2 crane that has a reach of up to 9.1 metres. This makes the driver’s job of unloading the truck much simpler and quicker and allows loads to be placed very precisely, even where access for the truck is restricted.

DAF’s LF55 model is the mainstay of the 110 strong Bradfords fleet, which operates out of a chain of 28 depots stretching from Andover to the tip of Cornwall and as far north as Worcester. A further 40 vehicles are operated within Bradfords’ timber division.

Group Transport Manager John Ponsillo says that the LF55 is ideally suited to their work and to the local operating conditions. “Viewed overall we get very good value out of our LF55s,” he says. “They’re robust and reliable, which is important in a competitive business like ours where you can’t afford to let customers down.

“We also find them economical to run, both in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance costs. And they’re light, which means more payload and therefore more drops in a working day.”

The latest DAF to go into service with the company is an FA LF55 powered by the 220 bhp (165 kW) rated GR165 engine. At 18 tonnes this means it has a comfortable power to weight ratio of 12.2 bhp/tonne, more than enough to cope easily with the local hilly terrain.

This six-cylinder Euro 4 compliant unit uses a common rail fuel injection system to achieve good fuel efficiency. It is well-matched to a 6S800 six-speed gearbox and the driveline is completed by an 11.5 tonne rated drive axle with mechanical diff lock.

Amongst options chosen by Bradfords are a high level air intake and in-cab PTO control fitted during assembly and including an engine speed control and chassis connector. A Thatcham H2 immobiliser and reverse camera were also fitted.

Taunton DAF was the supplying dealer and the aluminium dropside body was built by Wessex Vehicle Services of Salisbury. The new truck will be maintained in one of Bradfords two well-equipped workshops at Crewkerne and Glastonbury.

Founded in 1770 and still owned and managed by the Bradford family, the company is the largest independent builders merchants in the country. The group also includes Bradford Timber Supplies trading as Snows Timber and Crendon Timber Engineering.