100th DAF comes well wrapped for Waverley TBS

Vinyl cab wrapping is being used for the first time by national drinks distributor Waverley TBS as part of a new livery design. The first truck to receive the treatment is a DAF LF55, which is also the 100th vehicle to be delivered under a major renewal programme for the 230 vehicle fleet.

Fleet Manager Chris Davies says that the technique, which involves completely enveloping the truck cab in pre-printed vinyl film, is a fast and cost-effective way of applying a livery. It protects the original paintwork from chips and scratches and can be easily removed to restore the vehicle to its original paint condition, leading to higher residual values. It also makes it easier to change a livery quickly if, for example, the company wants to promote a new advertising message.

A key factor in the decision by Waverley TBS to change their entire fleet to DAF was that they offered a range of models to suit the company’s different operational requirements around the UK. In the more intense urban operations vehicles can make up to 30 deliveries a day to pubs, clubs and other ‘on trade’ premises, but the company also serves largely rural areas in Wales, the West Country and Scotland.

As a result, the 100 vehicles supplied so far range from 7.5 tonne LF45 and 18 tonne LF55 two-axle rigids to 21 tonne FAN three-axle rear-steer models and 24 tonne urban tractor units. All are Euro 4 compliant, but future vehicles will be Euro 5.

“With 23 depots stretching from Bodmin in Cornwall to Craigavon in Northern Ireland, the availability of a DAF dealer close to each was also important to us,” says Chris Davies. “The flexibility shown by the DAF dealers has enabled us to make individual arrangements with each of them to carry out inspections and servicing at times to suit us, including overnight and at weekends. We also felt that fast roadside assistance through DAFaid would provide a very useful additional level of support.”

The fleet replacement programme is being funded by means of a 60 month operating lease incorporating an R&M contract through PACCAR Financial Limited, the in-house finance arm of DAF. As well as proving financially attractive, this gives good visibility of running costs throughout the lifetime of the trucks.

Aire Truck Bodies fitted the curtain sided bodies on the DAF rigids at their Tipton site. All are curtain-siders from 5.0 metres on the LF45s up to 8.2 metres on the three-axle LF55s. For convenience and improved security they can be opened from either end and anti-vandal mesh is attached to the curtains. Reversing cameras and bleepers are fitted and some of the vehicles have tail-lifts.

Normally the trucks will operate with a crew of two, but some are fitted with a dual passenger seat for occasions when a third person needs to be carried.