DAF provides good image for heavy metal movers

Machinery moving specialists Flegg Transport have chosen high spec DAF XF105s for their 2008 fleet replacement programme to ensure driver comfort and to reinforce the company’s professional image with their customers.

An FAS three-axle rigid and a pair of mid-lift axle FTG tractors, all at 460 horsepower, have already entered service in the Buckinghamshire firm’s fleet, with another FTG at 510 horsepower due in August. All four trucks feature the AS-tronic automated transmission.

Nothing has been spared in specifying these trucks to a very high standard as the company wants its drivers and co-drivers to enjoy the highest level of comfort. The 105s have also been finished to look good on the road and when arriving at a customer’s premises.

“We’ve established a high standard of aesthetics across all aspects of our business,” says managing director Jayson Flegg. “And that extends to our vehicles because we want them to make a statement about our professionalism and high standards in our specialist area of machinery removals.

“As well as that, we want to make sure that our crews travel in comfort. The guys in our teams are both drivers and skilled machinery removal and installation engineers. It’s a difficult job and it’s important that they arrive on site relaxed and ready to start work. The truck cab can also be their rest room during long spells on site, so it needs to be properly equipped for them to take their breaks.”

When on the move, that level of comfort extends to an automatic transmission to reduce stress and increase safety. There’s full air conditioning, luxury air-suspended seats with arm rests for both driver and co-driver, a radio/CD player with six speakers, and a stylish silver dashboard that incorporates a hands-free telephone kit.

When at rest, the crew have plenty of room to move about and there’s ample storage for their personal clothing, including any wet weather gear and Personal Protective Equipment that they may need on site. They also have use of a fridge, a television with DVD player, and a microwave.

Externally the DAFs look stunning in Porsche red, with a full air management kit and ‘skylight’ spot lamps contoured into the cab roofline. They’re on 315/60 tyres to keep the height down and the tractor units have a Jost low-height fifth wheel to give a coupling height of just 1080 mm to match the Royen low-deck curtainsided trailers that the DAFs will pull.

Flegg Transport has also gone straight to the Euro 5 emissions standard with the 12.9 litre MX engines in their DAF 105s. Good fuel consumption was an important consideration in trucks that will cover up to 80,000 kms a year and Flegg Transport has been getting comfortably over 9 mpg from this engine in other DAFs in the fleet, so is confident that the 105s will perform well on fuel.

Jayson Flegg sees the move to Euro 5 as important to ensure a good residual value when he moves the trucks on in about four years time. It also helps future-proof them against developments such as the LEZ and any other emission legislation changes.

The trucks are on extended service intervals to help reduce maintenance downtime. Flegg Transport will take care of them in their own well-equipped workshop at their base at Aston Clinton, near Aylesbury where the fitters are very familiar with the DAF product. Parts support and any warranty work will be provided by the supplying dealer, Heathrow Truck Centre.