DAF drawbar brings added flexibility to natural food firm

A workers’ co-operative that is the UK’s largest independent wholesale distributor of natural food products has made significant efficiency gains and cut costs in its transport operations by introducing a highly flexible DAF drawbar outfit into service.

Suma Co-operative specialises in vegetarian, fair-trade, organic and ethical natural products which it delivers throughout the UK. The co-operative makes optimum use of its 15-strong fleet of 7.5 tonne and 18 tonne rigid by bringing backloads into its base at Elland in Yorkshire. Two regular long distance runs offered opportunities to use a larger vehicle and the co-operative opted for a DAF CF85 drawbar to operate at 44 tonnes gtw.

The prime mover is a FAN 6x2 with a lifting rear axle and plated to 26 tonnes. When operating as a solo this has a payload of over 12 tonnes, which is an increase of more than one third over the 18 tonne rigids that currently form the backbone of the fleet.

But it’s when the DAF is running with its SDC twin-axle, close-coupled trailer that the real savings start to be made. The drawbar unit has a payload that is three times that of an 18 tonner yet the truck still requires only one driver and delivers significant savings in overall fuel, taxation and maintenance costs relative to its higher carrying capacity.

Unusually the DAF prime mover is fitted with two bodies. The first 1660 mm (5ft 6in) comprises a fridge unit to carry chilled products and which can hold four pallets. This is accessible from either side through double opening doors and has an under slung Zannotti fridge unit with independent engine to maintain the required temperature. Behind this is a conventional curtain-side body occupying the remaining 6500mm (21ft 6in) of deck space and which has bi-fold doors on the rear as well as side curtains, so it can be loaded/unloaded from three points.

The trailer also has a curtain sided body and bi-fold doors to the front and twin doors to the rear. A simple ‘bridge’ system with safety handrails can be quickly put in place to link both trailer and truck bodies together and this enables the outfit to be loaded directly from the dock right through the trailer.

This facility also plays a crucial role in how Suma are using the DAF to maximise its productivity because it enables the driver to tranship loads between the two. From Monday to Wednesday the truck makes a three-day run to Central London and surrounding areas and the trailer is parked at a supplier’s premises to the north of London whilst the truck makes deliveries around the capital. The DAF then returns to collect a second load from the trailer and continues making local deliveries. While this is happening the supplier reloads the trailer with produce for delivery back to Yorkshire. A similar arrangement is in place for the second three-day trip of the week that takes the truck to the South West of England.

The driver at the wheel on each of these three-day runs enjoys considerable comfort in the DAF’s generously proportioned Space cab. This has two bunks with a fridge under the lower one, a luxury radio/CD with six speakers, and ample storage for personal gear.

Power is from the 12.9 litre DAF MX engine rated at 410 bhp, which is Euro 5 compliant and is matched to a 16-speed manual gearbox. With the DAF expected to cover up to a million kilometres in the five years that Suma will keep it, the renowned fuel efficiency of the MX engine should yield considerable savings in fuel costs.

DAF dealer F&G Commercials of Huddersfield supplied the truck and Micra Truck Bodies of Wakefield designed and built the bodywork. F&G will be carrying out six-weekly inspections and routine servicing under a R&M contract through PACCAR Financial.

The drawbar outfit and the new system of working that is yielding such good results is the brainchild of Suma Distribution Co-ordinator, Paul Sharpe. A professional transport manager, he and the Distribution Team put the plan together as part of a plan to save the company money and lessen its impact on the environment whilst maximising delivery capacity.