The new addition is an 8x2 tridem axle configuration with lift capability on the second and lift-and-steer on the fourth axle, and was chosen for its ability to access difficult locations. It has taken over feed delivery runs into farms from a 6x2 vehicle.
“We had been waiting for a tridem truck to be available from DAF, and are really pleased with the additional accessibility and load capacity it gives us compared to a basic 6x2,” says Angela Shorrock, manager at Massey’s Preston site.
“We’ve had the DAF FAQ working for some three months now and it is proving its worth.”
Shorrock is now working with local dealer, Lancashire DAF, on the possibility of a DAF FAQ tridem with curtainside body. “If this bulker continues to deliver in terms of reliability and economy, we are certainly going to be interested in the options for a curtainsider.”
The company has a mixed fleet at its Preston site, as well as the other two mills in Cheshire and Devon, but Shorrock says DAF vehicles are increasingly being chosen “because we get a lot less downtime with them”.
The company purchases most of its vehicles outright, with manufacturer R&M contracts. “We can budget far better if we have long-term R&M in place and, with the way we run the fleet, we are happy to look at up to seven-year contracts where we can,” says Shorrock, adding that the service from the dealer is “second to none”.