Leyland Trucks produces 5,000th factory-bodied DAF

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Eindhoven / March 28, 2014

At Leyland Trucks in the UK, the 5,000th DAF LF distribution truck with in-house manufactured and mounted PACCAR body came off the production line. The vehicle was handed to Royal Mail, the UK’s postal service that already has more than 700 PACCAR-bodied DAF trucks in its fleet.

Leyland Trucks is the one and only truck manufacturer that assembles and installs bodies on its truck production lines. It assures that the body meets the same high quality standards as the truck itself. It also offers significant reductions in delivery lead times, supporting maximum efficiency and vehicle availability.

EU type approval for the complete vehicle guarantees the fastest possible registration process.

Customers can specify and order both chassis and superstructure at the DAF dealer, which also contributes to optimal efficiency.

In the UK market, DAF supplies a full range of LF distribution trucks with a PACCAR body, including boxed and curtain sider versions. The range of body works also includes the advanced aerodynamic Aerobody which is designed to enhance fuel consumption and which now is also available on continental markets in Europe.

Thanks to the aerodynamic optimizations, fuel savings of over 4% and resulting reductions in CO₂ emissions are possible in distribution transport. At a cruising speed of 85 km/h, the LF Aerobody can be up to 8% more economical compared to a vehicle with a conventional body.

Leyland Truck’s in-house bodybuilding capability, which is unique amongst major European truck manufacturers, gives DAF the ability to offer its customers a complete vehicle which fully complies with EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) regulations. These came into effect last year for vehicle manufacturers but will not apply to the vehicle bodybuilding industry until October.

As a result of meeting these regulations DAF LF vehicles equipped with PACCAR bodies built exclusively in the UK by Leyland Trucks are now being sold in all EU member states without the need to meet regulations in individual countries. Outside the UK the body being sold is the advanced aerodynamic Aerobody which is designed to enhance fuel consumption and is also available in the UK. The Aerobody has shown fuel savings of 5% in real operating conditions and up to 8% when the vehicle is running at normal cruising speed of 53 mph compared to a conventional body.

Ron Augustyn, Leyland Trucks managing director, comments: “Our ability to produce PACCAR bodies in-house can significantly reduce delivery lead times. From the first part of the production process, where we assemble the truck chassis, to a finished vehicle coming off the line fully bodied, painted, lettered and ready for the road can take as little as 24 hours."

“In the case of the trucks we are building and bodying for Royal Mail, we complete the vehicle, livery it, organise its registration and taxation and deliver it direct to a designated depot where it immediately enters service."

“Since we started the PACCAR body programme we have extended the range available so that today it covers both box bodies and curtain siders up to 18 tonnes gross weight. The latest LF Aerobody now going to the European Continent is available with internal lengths of 6.75 and 7.05 metres, suitable for carrying 16 or 17 Euro pallets, and comes as standard with a 1,500 kg capacity tail-lift, also fitted at Leyland”.

“This puts DAF well ahead of the game in terms of being able to provide our customers with a vehicle that in its entirety is built to the exacting quality standards for which Leyland Trucks is renowned and which fully meets WVTA requirements,” says Ray Ashworth, MD of DAF Trucks.

“Not only does this ensure consistency throughout in the fit and finish of these factory-bodied vehicles, but also in any ancillary equipment fitted,” he adds. “And the customer has only one point of contact for sales and specification issues”.

The vehicle being handed over to Royal Mail is a 7.5 tonne LF model fitted with a 5.15 metre long box body and a cantilever tail-lift. Power is from the highly economical 4.5 litre, four-cylinder PACCAR PX-5 Euro 6 engine rated at 112 kW (152 bhp) and which is Euro 6 emissions compliant.

The highly successful LF model has been completely renewed in line with DAF’s Euro 6 product line-up. Designed and built exclusively at Leyland for DAF, this is by far the best selling light/medium weight truck in the UK market and last year accounted for 42% of sales in this important sector of the market.

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