It is the first time in 10 years that BT Fleet has procured such a solution, designed from scratch, and it invited several manufacturers to suggest chassis options before deciding on DAF.
The DAF LF short-wheelbase trucks, designed in partnership with SB Components, incorporate auger, crane, road-guarding kit and storage.
"Openreach has 3.5 million poles across the UK, and fleet utilisation is critical to providing an effective service," says Duncan Webb, commercial director for BT Fleet.
"These latest DAF 7.5 tonners are already delivering significant operational advantages beyond our previous vehicles. With everything 'on-board', our trucks can now maximise their time in operation."
Webb says DAF's willingness to find a solution "really impressed" the operator. "The finished vehicle is an improvement over our initial concept," he adds. "We now have 22 DAF LFs in service with another 15 on order."
