Food company moves to automatics at 7.5 tonnes

Automatic transmissions are the choice of leading food distribution company Holdsworth in 12 DAF 7.5 tonne and a pair of 10 tonne LF45s that they’ve just put into service.

With as many as 35 drops a day to pubs, hotels, restaurants, schools and hospitals and busy traffic conditions to deal with, the automatics will really improve the driving experience. Holdsworth believe that automatics will help to reduce driver stress, leading to safer driving, and will improve the fuel efficiency of trucks that will each cover up to 100,000 kilometres a year.

They replace vehicles in Holdsworth’s fleet of 60 trucks based out of the company’s five depots from which they supply the catering industry across South Yorkshire, central and southern England and South Wales with over 3,000 different frozen, chilled and ambient food products.

John Marriott, Managing Director of Holdsworth, said: “We chose the DAF LF45 because of its proven reliability, economy and its light weight, which increases the carrying capacity.

“The LF45 suits our needs well. It offers car-like driving characteristics, is compact and manoeuvrable, and presents a good image when arriving at our customers’ premises. And with costs at their present high levels, the fuel economy of this model is particularly important to us.

”It’s also part of our business philosophy to build long-term partnerships with our suppliers and we’ve enjoyed a good working relationship with our local DAF dealer in Derby – now Imperial Commercials – for almost a quarter of a century.”

All 14 of the LF45s are powered by the 180 bhp (136 kW) FR103 Euro 4 engine, which the company says delivers environmental and economical advantages. It also has a generous power to weight ratio of 24 bhp/tonne at 7.5 tonnes, ensuring good traffic compatibility and journey times. On the 10 tonners it’s a very comfortable18 bhp/tonne.

Lancashire based Solomon Commercials fitted the insulated bodies on the new DAFs, constructed using Styrofoam RTM, high density insulation panels with 2.1 mm GRP skins. A fixed bulkhead in the centre of the body enables both frozen and chilled products to be carried, with the forward compartment accessed by a side door. The vehicles are refrigerated using Frigoblock undermounted direct drive fridge units, thus further reducing emissions.

Holdsworth’s head offices are located in the picturesque Derbyshire Dales town of Tideswell, with depots at Chesterfield, Northampton, Evesham and Crickhowell. The privately owned company was started by Michael Holdsworth, and has a further three other family members working in the business. It currently employs 240 people, has an annual turnover of £45 million, and supplies over 6,000 customers. Next year Holdsworth will celebrate 40 years in business.