“Since the sad loss last year of my father, who founded the company back in 1946, we have undergone a period of consolidation and rationalisation,” comments owner Richard Read.
“This has seen us move into the Pallex pallet network, [and] hence the immediate investment in the new DAF rigids,” he continues.
“We have also been reviewing the make-up of the general haulage fleet to give us a more settled policy, as well as getting everything we run on this side of the business into the main corporate livery.”
Richard Read Transport’s new LF trucks include an 8-tonner, a 12-tonner and five 18-tonne vehicles, all acquired through DAF Finance on five-year deals and liveried for the Read/Pallex operation.
Meanwhile, the XF tractors are intended for long-distance trunking as part of Richard Reade’s a fleet update programme – following an on-site auction that saw it divest itself of some 150 items, including four trucks and several trailers.
“Our relationship with DAF began with a used 2010 XF tractor unit we bought and put on day/night trunking operations,” recalls Read.
“From that initial vehicle, and now with the recent rigid DAF experience, I have been impressed by both the fuel and AdBlue economy, as well as the support from the local dealership, Imperial Commercials,” he says.
“It was also very reassuring to be able to go along, at DAF’s invitation, and see the trucks being assembled in this country – I even took along a couple of Pallex directors for a look around the Leyland Trucks assembly plant,” he adds.