Factory bodied DAFs support Bulky Bob’s recycling scheme
Bulky Bob’s, an innovative social enterprise providing a specialist bulky household waste collection service to local councils in the North West, has put a quartet of DAF LF45s on the road under a fleet renewal programme.
Based in Liverpool and with operations in Oldham and Warrington, Bulky Bob’s is using the four 7.5 tonners to collect unwanted white goods and furniture from over 50,000 private households, with 70% of items being recycled or re-used. The trucks feature 20 foot (6.05 metre) box van bodies and tail-lifts fitted during build at the Leyland Trucks plant just up the M6 in Lancashire.
Regional Operations Manager for Bulky Bob’s, Helen Halpin, says that the company was attracted to the DAF LF45 for two reasons. “The strong green credentials of the model with its Euro 5 EEV engine and its reputation for good fuel efficiency chimed well with our own ethos of being a social enterprise with clear environmental aims,” she says.
“On top of that both the trucks and their bodies were produced here in the North West at Leyland and it is one of our aims to always try and support local firms who bring employment to people in the area.”
Helen’s own efforts in helping to build Bulky Bob’s into a substantial social enterprise were recognised recently with the ‘Woman of the Year’ award at the 2010 Every Woman in Transport Awards. Today the organisation employs over 50 people including 20 trainees who were previously long-term unemployed, and also helps hundreds of disadvantaged and low income families to acquire good quality furniture at affordable prices through their Revive store.
Bulky Bob’s drivers are reported to be delighted with their new DAFs, which they say are light and easy to drive. Power is from the 4.5 litre PACCAR FR EEV engine rated at 160 bhp matched to a five-speed manual gearbox. Features for their added comfort include air conditioning and a high quality radio/CD player.
Within the bodies there are two rows of load locks to assist in fast securing of items and a one tonne Ratcliff column tail-lift with a 1050 mm (41.5 inches) wide alloy platform makes loading/unloading easy and safe. A reversing bleeper provides added safety and a roof spoiler contributes to fuel efficiency.
The trucks were supplied on a six year contract hire package through Merseyside company Riverside Truck Rental and come with full maintenance support. The supplying DAF dealer was North West Trucks of Huyton.
