The deal involves 75 CF460 6x2s and 25 CF440 4x2s, and is part of a total fleet upgrade programme under which Howdens will replace its existing inter-depot fleet with contract hire vehicles all from Ryder.
The new DAF trucks all have space cabs and include top of the range specification fuel efficiency and safety items, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward facing cameras and Microlise telematics.
"As a customer-focused business we take our environmental and safety responsibilities very seriously," comments Charlie Nissen, Howdens national transport manager.
"So specifying Euro 6 and numerous safety features was a logical business decision," he continues.
"We had previously carried out our own evaluation of various makes and models, and concluded that the total life cost of operating the DAF CF was not only the lowest, but that it also offered the best value proposition for our business," he adds.
Nissen also says that the DAF CF trucks' mpg figure is an improvement on its existing fleet and that the vehicles scored highly on its driver satisfaction survey.
"Because our own service levels and expectations are high, we are very demanding in what we want in a contract," he says.
"So we found that being associated with one of the biggest national suppliers in the truck contract hire market will provide us with the high service levels that are critical to the continued success and expansion of our business."
The new tractor units will operate across Howdens Yorkshire and Northampton distribution hubs and its four regional transportation hubs, delivering to nearly 600 trade depots.