Cranleigh Freight Services puts DAF XFs on regulated airline duty 20 December 2013

Surrey-based Cranleigh Freight Services has put three Euro 6 DAF XF460 tractor units into service on its tightly regulated airline service, just ahead of the 2014 deadline.

The new vehicles form part of an order for 18 tractors, in line with CFS's continuous fleet replacement policy, and have Super Space cabs, providing 12.6 m3 of space and ample storage for personal gear, PPE (personal protective equipment etc. CFS also specified low-profile Bycool evaporative air conditioning that can operate independently of the ac equipment.

The new DAF XFs are all 3.6 metre wheelbase, two-axle FT low-deck, left-hand-drive trucks, powered by the 12.9 litre Paccar MX-13 engine, rated at 460bhp and delivering 2,300Nm of torque between 1,000 and 1,400 rpm.

CFS also specified the 12-speed AS-tronic automated transmission to provide optimum performance and fuel returns as well increased driver safety.

The trucks will operate with high-cube Mega trailers, some of which have slide/tilt roofs and are fitted with a roller-bed system to enable container handling in sync with aircraft operations. Since they are plated to run at 40 tonnes, CFS will get 11.5bhp per tonne, comfortably handling move-off and wind resistance from the high-sided trailers.

Becky Young, sales and marketing manager for Cranleigh Group, says that the decision to go for DAF's XF trucks was based on an extended evaluation exercise in which the trial vehicle was never off the road, proved very fuel efficient, and was popular with drivers.

"Airlines work to strict timetables and it's essential that we comply with the same precise schedules. This means we need trucks that are reliable, while at the same time being economical to run and, just like the airlines, image is also very important to us," states Young.

"Our new DAF XFs are helping us to score on all of these points, as well as providing an improved driver experience, which supports the recruitment and retention of high calibre drivers," she adds.

Young also explains that Cranleigh is one of the few UK transport companies that is a 'regulated agent' in air freight.

"This lays down a rigorous security regime that requires us to work to the highest standards, in terms of the operational management of our fleet, the levels of consignment traceability and audit trail that we must maintain," she says

"Our experience with the DAF product over a number of years and more recently with the Euro 6 evaluation vehicle, has shown them to be very reliable," she continues.

"And should a problem occur we have the peace of mind that the pan-European DAFaid and DAF ITS back-up service will live up to its promise and get the truck quickly back on the road and on schedule."

Cranleigh Freight Services will be maintaining the vehicles in its own workshop at its Dunsfold base, where the trucks will also undergo their six-weekly safety inspections. Barnes DAF, which supplied the new XFs, will provide warranty and parts support through its dealerships at Guildford and Shoreham.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
DAF Trucks Ltd

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