The company said that in deciding to lease the vehicles that it was "impressed by the competitiveness of the overall deal and quality support provided" by Asset Alliance Group.
Paul Eve, head of fleet management at the Woodland Group, said: “We traditionally outright purchase our trucks, but this time around we factored in cost of borrowing, the right deal for us and importantly our customers, and the DAF dealer network with its recognised roadside support to keep the fleet rolling.
“The commercial deal Asset Alliance Group put together for us was the most competitive in a tough market for suppliers, making the decision to change how we pay for our trucks, and to run DAFs for the first time, an easy one. The addition of three years’ repair and maintenance cover direct with DAF as part of the deal being the differentiator.”
The new DAF XF 480 trucks are compliant with the uprated Direct Vision Standard and feature additional 360-degree cloud recordable viewing cameras to enhance road users and driver safety. The vehicles have a high specification with a focus on driver comfort to aid retention and include the Executive Pack option, which features uprated beds, air-suspended seats and interior LED lighting.
The new trucks are a mixture of fleet renewals and additions to support several major new business wins. Thirty-two of the tractor units carry the livery of an existing customer and will be based out of Barnsley. All the new trucks will run on hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to further reduce the environmental impact on top of the huge amount of work the Woodland Group is doing and has done.
The deal marks the first time the Woodland Group has run the DAF product, having previously been an exclusively Mercedes-Benz powered fleet.
To ensure a smooth transition, Paul Eve and the Asset Alliance Group organised DAF-run “train-the-trainer” and driver training sessions, to ensure that the new equipment is used to its maximum potential, and that the operator’s incentivised drivers can continue to be rewarded for delivering their best behind the wheel.
Paul Eve and the Asset Alliance Group also conducted dealer site visits to introduce those dealers to the Woodland Group.
The Woodland Group runs a mixed fleet of 180 artics with a handful of rigids/vans, with 230 drivers and over 400 trailers across the UK, the majority being curtain-sided together with some custom flatbeds. It typically embeds itself at customers’ sites providing seamless transport and distribution solutions nationwide. It works with customers in the packaging, print media, building and construction sectors.
