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Special livery marks 75th DAF XF105 for Freshlinc

6th August 2010 Print
DAF XF105

Delivery of the 75th DAF XF105 to Lincolnshire chilled produce distributor Freshlinc has been marked by the application of a special livery and a number of additional features. The truck is one of six being supplied by DAF dealer Ford & Slater Spalding under a four year contract hire deal through PACCAR Financial and joins a 140 strong fleet.

To further enhance its unique livery, the 75th truck has been fitted with twin air horns, stainless steel lighting bars with six lights on the top bar and four on the bottom, alloy wheels and the unique registration FL 10 DAF.

Servicing of this and the other five new trucks will be carried out at Ford & Slater’s Spalding service dealership, where recent investment of £200,000 has seen the opening of a dedicated HGV MoT test facility. The depot is adjacent to Freshlinc’s main operating base and the work will be carried out overnight and at weekends to meet operational needs and to ensure maximum vehicle availability.

The trucks are 44 tonne FTG mid-lift axle models featuring the 12.9 litre DAF MX engine rated at 460 bhp (340 kW) and which delivers 2300 Nm of torque. This is matched to an automated 12-speed AS-tronic transmission in line with the Freshlinc ‘all-automatic’ policy which aims to support safer and more consistent driving standards and better fuel efficiency.

Fleet engineer Andy Marchant says that the 105’s good fuel economy and its reliability were key factors in the decision to add more to its fleet. “Our customers include several major supermarket chains who require timed deliveries into their RDCs, which can be operationally quite demanding,” he says. “This makes it particularly important that we have reliable trucks, which we find our 105s to be, and to have this supported by good service back-up right on our doorstep at Ford & Slater.

“The fact that they can do the work at times to suit us is important. We run a very intensive operation and need to maintain a high level of vehicle availability, which these flexible servicing arrangements help us to do.”

The 105 has also proved popular with Freshlinc’s drivers who enjoy the low in-cab noise levels when on the road and the roominess of the sleeper cab with its ample storage space.

The DAFs are each expected to cover around 180,000 kilometres a year operating throughout the UK delivering locally grown produce. They will also be used to support Freshlinc’s continued expansion into Europe, from where the company brings cut flowers and fresh produce.

Freshlinc is also working closely with Michelin to manage tyre costs and eradicate downtime from tyre related breakdowns. The new DAFs are fitted with Michelin tyres and will go on to a Michelin PPK contract.

Ford & Slater sales executive Adrian Briant says that he’s delighted to be supplying the 75th XF105 to Freshlinc and to seeing it in its unique livery.

“This is a highly regarded operator and an important local company in Lincolnshire. I’m very pleased that they have again chosen the 105 and that they have reached the milestone figure of having 75 of these top-range DAFs in their fleet. All at Ford & Slater Spalding look forward to supporting our customer in ensuring that these trucks can be operated to their maximum level of efficiency and productivity.”

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DAF XF105