Abbey Logistics recently added seven New Generation DAF XF 450 FTP tractors and four previous generation XFs as part of its ongoing fleet replenishment program.
The United Kingdom’s largest provider of bulk liquid and powder transportation will use the trucks to serve key food producers in the U.K and Europe, the company said. The units join an existing fleet of 350 tractor units and nearly 700 purpose-designed tankers.
“A successful fleet truck is one that our drivers will take great pride in operating,” said Dave Patten, managing director at Abbey. “It needs to be safe, comfortable, and spec’d to a high standard with the right equipment and facilities a driver would need when out on the road. We believe that DAF’s New Generation trucks are some of the highest quality vehicles on the market today, so we are pleased to be among the first U.K. operators to add them to our fleet.
“DAF has also proven itself to be a manufacturer of reliable, trustworthy, and dependable trucks that we can have the upmost confidence in to deliver time and time again on behalf of our customers.”
Though it’s too early for Abbey to provide real-world economy data, the firm is confident the New Generation XFs will bring “substantial” increases in overall efficiency, DAF said.
“Like any fleet operator, economy and efficiency are important, and our DAF trucks have always been able to balance outstanding performance with a competitive miles-per-gallon figure,” Patten said. “The New Generation XF promises to be a major step up over the older models, so we’re excited to see the results for ourselves.”
Abbey’s new XFs are fitted with DAF’s all-new Digital Vision System, which replaces the main and wide-angle door mirrors with retractable roof-mounted cameras and in-cab screens. The system provides visibility in all weather conditions and access to additional features, such as auto-panning and an extra-wide-angle view.
“We always engage our drivers when we plan to make a notable change to our fleet,” Patten added. “They are the people behind the wheel day in, day out, so it’s important for us to gain their perspective on what they are looking for from a new model of truck.”