DAF CF75 cements its position in Lafarge fleet 21 December 2011

Lafarge has taken delivery of 12 new 360bhp CF75 trucks for use by its Readymix division.

The building materials supplier has had all of the vehicles configured as concrete mixers, with the new fleet arrivals consisting of one 6x4 FAT chassis and 11 8x4 FAD chassis, all fitted with McPhee mixer units (8m3 for the 11 FADs and 6m3 on the FAT chassis).

"It is important to us that we have reliable and safe trucks operating at all times," comments Nick Elliott, national transport manager at Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK.

"The DAF CF75s were chosen because they provide a cost-effective solution and a best-fit for our particular operation. The CF is a proven product and it is also hugely popular with our contractors," he continues.

Specifically on the subject of safety, Elliott points out that one of the biggest problems for companies like Lafarge that deliver concrete into London and other busy cities is awareness of vehicles for other road users.

"We have taken a number of simple, yet innovative steps to safeguard vulnerable road user groups, such as pedestrians and cyclists," he says.

"We have specified a camera system that provides drivers with a better view of the nearside of the truck, as well as an audible left-turn warning to alert any cyclist or pedestrian of the vehicle's movement," explains Elliott.

"In the cab we have also specified a lane departure warning and a dash-mounted red/green drum rotation indicator that notifies the driver whether the mixer is mixing or discharging," he adds.

Beyond that, Elliott says that all Lafarge vehicles, including these 12 DAF trucks, meet the new conspicuity regulations, which came into force in July – with reflective strips along the top, bottom and both sides of the rear.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
DAF Trucks Ltd
McPhee Bros (Blantyre) Ltd

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