Sleeper cab offers extra storage space on 18 tonne tippers

Sleeper cabs on 18-tonne two-axle rigids are not very common, but when the trucks are tippers then they’re much more of a rare beast.

For Shepton Mallet based Walton Civil Engineering and Surfacing Contractors Limited, specifying a sleeper cab on six new DAF LF55s was not about giving the driver somewhere to put his head down. It was aimed solely at providing plenty of space for him to store his personal protective equipment, wet weather clothing and other issued items that he is expected to carry.

The company specialises in utility reinstatement across a wide swathe of southern England. Its role is to finish the job once the utility companies have put in new water, gas or sewer pipes or underground cabling or have carried out major repairs. And it needs to complete the work fast and to a very high standard in order to minimise disruption on heavily-trafficked roads.

“This requires the use of equipment that’s tailored to the task so that teams can operate quickly and effectively,” says John Binding, Walton’s Plant and Transport Manager. “The driver is a key part of the team. He doesn’t simply drive the truck to the site, but when he gets there he is fully integrated into a three or four man team and becomes actively involved in the reinstatement work.

“This means that he has to have a full set of PPE as well as wet weather clothing, and he needs somewhere to put it. Day cabs have proved unsuitable because they simply don’t have enough storage space, but the DAF sleeper cab offers ample storage behind the seats in three useful storage boxes as well as a very comfortable environment when he’s driving to and from a job.

“Combining the DAF LF55 with a heavy-duty, double dropside, steel body by Thompson’s of Croydon has achieved what I think is the best vehicle for the job. The body has a 10 tonne capacity and is fully insulated to allow us to carry tarmac within a specified heat range which ensures it’s usability up to when the last wheelbarrow full is required.

“Thompson’s experience and technical knowledge have successfully interpreted our ideas and specification to produce a high specification vehicle which is well suited to the DAF chassis. It can be divided by means of a simple cross-body partition that can be swung quickly into position when we have to carry split loads. The tailgate incorporates five individual tar chutes to allow highly accurate control of discharge to achieve optimum efficiency and eliminate materials spillage.

“The DAF LF55 not only drives well, but it also looks good. This undoubtedly creates the right impression with our customers and strenghtens our image as a highly professional company.”

The DAFs are 4.45 metre wheelbase FA LF55s powered by the 6.7 litre GR165 engine, which uses SCR technology to achieve Euro 4 emissions compliance. Walton’s have opted for the 250 bhp (184 kW) rated version, which at 18 tonnes gives a more than ample 13.9 bhp/tonne of power to weight. The engine delivers 950 Nm of torque between 1200 and 1800 rpm.

The trucks are working out of Walton’s head office at Shepton Mallet and depots in Poole, Southampton and Swindon. Annual mileages are likely to be relatively low at 35,000 (55,000 kms) and the company plans to keep the DAFs for at least five years. Taunton DAF supplied the trucks and will be delivering a further eight later in the summer along with four 26 tonne DAF CF75s.