Steel haulier, Arthur Oakley Transport, has taken delivery of another four DAF XF 460 FTG 6×2 tractor-units – the seventh premium duty tractor acquired by the company since 1st March. The Hereford-based operator continues to replace its Scania and MAN fleet in preference of the built-in-Britain marque and the DAF XF’s ‘brilliant’ AdBlue economy.
Even more recently, the company has put to the road a new top-of-the-range flagship DAF XF 510 FTG. All the new DAF XFs are spec’d with Super Space Cabs and are supplied through DAF Trucks’ Cardiff dealership, Watts Truck & Van.
“The DAFs can be away from base for three weeks or more without requiring an AdBlue top-up,” says Transport Manager, Steve Underwood. “Our other trucks won’t last a fraction of that time, and we end-up paying a premium for AdBlue on the forecourt. Fuel returns are already more than acceptable, too,” he says, “and we’re seeing averages of 8.5mpg at maximum weight – that’s great for our operation.”
Underwood describes three fundamental reasons for choosing the DAF product; AdBlue, a single large-capacity fuel tank and, decisively, driver insistence on the big DAF XF cab.
“We give our drivers a big say on the equipment we provide them,” continues Underwood, “and when it comes to their trucks, it’s the DAF XF every time. We’ve run Scania and MAN before, but our drivers insist the DAF is where they want to work. And it’s not just the cab,” he says, “the split fuel tank on the Scania proved problematic and a real annoyance for the drivers when re-fuelling. And, from an operational point-of-view,” adds Underwood, “the DAF’s Adblue usage is just brilliant.”
The specialist steel haulier invests in unique-specification Schmitz Euroliner trailers which it orders directly from the manufacturer in Germany. Arthur Oakley drivers receive special training for operations on-site at its major customer’s steel manufacturing locations.
