DAF drives off with top fleet truck award07 July 2016

DAF’s XF tractor won the fleet truck of the year prize at the Motor Transport Awards, held last night (6 July) in London.

Despite the core product concept being almost 30 years’ old, DAF’s latest generation XF, said the judges, continues to look and feel modern.

Assembled at Paccar’s Leyland factory, at Euro 6 the XF offers a range of power options from 410bhp to 510bhp, with a choice of a 12.9-litre MX-13 engine or a new MX11 10.8-litre engine.

It was also recognised for driver comfort, build quality and fuel economy, along with aftersales support.

Fleet van of the year winner was the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, noted for its Euro 6 model with SCR technology and a host of safety features.

Other winners on the night included:

• AAH Pharmaceuticals, the Coventry-based healthcare product business, which won the technical excellence award for its new PharmaVan. Based on a Ford Transit, it includes an insulated cargo area, temperature-controlled storage for drugs such as paracetamol, as well as a fridge for other drugs like insulin. There is also a secure drugs locker, live feed temperature monitoring, plus a live alert system which sends out emails in the event of a temperature deviation.
• North Lanarkshire-based Malcolm Logistics, which took top spot in the haulier of the year category. A key participant in the DfT’s longer semi-trailer trials, the company has engineered an extendable skeletal trailer and its 50ft container, for road and rail transport, increased pallet capacity. The judges also noted its strong focus on corporate responsibility.
• Leicester-based Samworth Bros Supply Chain is temperature-controlled operator of the year, recognised for its on-time delivery performance and temperature integrity.
• Vision Techniques collected the innovation award for its BrakeSafe product, a failsafe system that warns the driver and automatically applies the handbrake on an HGV to prevent runaway vehicles – “unique in its practical application of the handbrake”, said the judges.
• United Biscuits, based in Leicestershire, topped the low carbon category for its environmental achievements, which include zero waste to landfill since 2012 and a 43% reduction in fleet emissions since 2005.

The awards, organised by Motor Transport magazine, were presented at London’s Grosvenor House hotel in front of a 1,600-strong audience and were hosted by TV and radio personality Jonathan Ross.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
DAF Trucks Ltd
Mercedes Benz Uk Limited

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