24/7 service led to trio of DAF XF105s

Availability of 24-hour servicing seven days a week was a key factor in the decision by specialist plant and machinery movers Rob Masters Limited of Wellingborough to put three DAF XF105s into their 30-vehicle fleet.

“The nature of our operation means that we have to maintain a high level of vehicle availability,” says Rob Masters. “We also need to keep our high value assets working as much as possible. This makes it particularly important that we can get vehicles in for servicing overnight or at weekends and often at very short notice. Brian Currie, our local DAF dealer in Northampton, showed exceptional flexibility in meeting our needs, offering 24/7 service, and this was a critical factor in our decision to purchase the DAFs.”

These are the first DAFs to be operated by the company since Rob Masters started his business with a solitary DAF in 1988. Since then he has built up an impressive fleet of trucks, most fitted with high-capacity cranes for the movement of plant, machinery, portacabins and numerous more exotic loads like helicopters.

The new DAFs certainly live up to the company’s reputation for running top-of-the range trucks. They’re all FTS 6 x 2 models with a tag axle and are the first of this model to enter service in the UK. DAF’s Super Space cab with Skylights sculpted into the roofline, a stainless-steel roof-mounted light bar with four Hella spots flanked by hazard beacons, and a full-width sun visor result in a very eye-catching truck.

Tim Allen, a driver at Rob Masters for 12 years, is the man at the wheel of the first of the trio of DAFs to go on the road. He was involved in the evaluation exercise that led to the decision to buy the 105 and his vote came down clearly in favour of the big DAF.

“Driver appeal was very important when deciding which make and model to buy,” says Rob Masters. “Tim was particularly impressed by the huge amount of space in the DAF sleeper cab, although ironically he’s only been doing day work since we got the truck! The other two will be used on longer Continental trips to Germany, southern Spain and the toe of Italy. On these trips a roomy cab with plenty of storage space is really essential and the DAF Super Space cab certainly delivers that.”

The company has also opted for plenty of power, choosing the 510 bhp (375 kW) rating for the 12.9 litre MX engine in the 105s. This results in a generous 11.6 bhp/tonne of power to weight at 44 tonnes, which will help maintain good average speeds on the longer runs without compromising fuel efficiency.

It also means that there’ll be ample power for the second of the DAFs, which will be an STGO Category 2 truck plated to run at up to 65 tonnes gross. At both 44 and 65 tonnes the massive 2500 Nm of torque between 1000 and 1410 rpm from the MX also ensures smooth moving off in all load and surface conditions. The engine is also Euro 5 compliant, some two years ahead of legislation.

The choice of the FTS with its twin-wheel tag axle suits the job of plant and machinery moving very well. Lifting the axle puts more traction onto the drive axle to help get underway more easily in slippery site conditions. And when in congested city centres – the company frequently runs into central London – it significantly improves the turning circle making the truck much more manoeuvrable.

Brian Currie will be taking care of the trucks under a five year Repair and Maintenance contract.