How good is this? The good folk at DAF are grinning from ear to ear with total sales of their new DAF XF reaching the magical 200 mark since it – along with the DAF CF – was launched onto the market in March this year. The latest news is that an order for 100 new DAF XF 480 models has been received from the Cumotrans Group, of which 20 have already been delivered.
The stock of 20 was drawn from the original 100 units brought into the country at the time of the launch. According to Mark Gavin, Sales Director Transport Solutions at Babcock, the balance of the original 100 have already been sold and there are therefore still 80 units to go to the Cumotrans Group. These will be delivered at monthly intervals during the course of the year.
Operating in the tipper, tautliner and tanker transport sectors, the new DAF XF trucks for Cumotrans will be used by various companies within the group for the bulk transportation of manganese, coal, chrome, maize and fertiliser (Cumotrans) as well as for the transportation of palletised goods (Kritzinger Transport) and in the tanker industry (Mystic Blue).
This group of companies is not a stranger to the DAF brand, having previously purchased 100 DAF trucks from Babcock some years back. Both orders hold the accolade of being among Babcock’s biggest bulk orders of DAF trucks.
Bertus Kritzinger, director of the Cumotrans group says that while 2020 was a tough year, the logistics group has managed to stand firm thanks to its loyal customers supporting their business and most importantly, their staff who have been committed to work throughout the pandemic.
When you’re running truck fleets in the hundreds, optimal fuel consumption, low maintenance costs and minimum breakdowns are the all-important criteria that logistics operators look for in a truck. On all these points, Kritzinger is a happy man saying that new DAF XF trucks have already shown an improvement in fuel consumption compared to the previous models.
“We’ve been running DAF trucks for four years, comprising about 70% of our overall fleet. We are pleased with the performance of the trucks and very satisfied with the service we’re getting from Babcock,” says Kritzinger.
Central to the new DAF trucks’ transport efficiency is a multi-torque PACCAR MX-13 engine offering more torque at lower revolutions per minute (rpm) for higher fuel efficiency. The trucks also feature the latest generation TraXon automated gearbox that offers less friction losses, faster upshifts, and the extended use of EcoRoll contributing to lower fuel consumption.
Other engine innovations enhancing fuel economy and performance include fully variable oil, steering and coolant pumps; a new piston ring package and skirt profile; and a new turbo charger and combustion system.
