Not only are DAF runaway UK market leaders in truck sales, they are the only business that assembles trucks here. Leyland Trucks is the PACCAR-owned facility that makes almost all right hand drive DAF trucks in the world.
So, it is great news that the company has announced that they have just seen the 200,000th LF chassis roll off the production line.
Ready-Bodied – Straight to Work
The truck, an LF City 170 7.5-tonne GVW rigid is being delivered to local customer, EVTS, in Blackpool. The truck is also fitted with PACCAR curtain-side bodywork, designed and manufactured at Leyland Trucks on a dedicated production line. LF City specification includes a manual five-speed gearbox and the lightweight PACCAR PX-4 engine with 170 bhp.
The Lucky Customer
LF number 200,000 is part of a fleet order for EVTS including two further LF City 7.5-tonners, two CF tractor units and four top-of-the-range XF tractors with Super Space Cabs.
EVTS was established in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Eric and Barbra Vallance. In 1997, the company became a founder member of major pallet network. More recently, in 2009, EVTS acquired shares in leading overnight pallet specialist, Palletforce. Today, EVTS is managed by Steve Vallance, and, in addition to its pallet operation, also offers next-day, groupage and storage services. The 35-truck fleet comprises 32 DAF vehicles.
Leyland Trucks is also home to the manufacturer of right-hand-drive DAF CF and XF models, in addition to producing chassis for overseas markets.
DAF UK Production History
With LF production commencing in 2001, Leyland Trucks is home to the design, development and manufacturer of all right-hand-drive DAF LF chassis. 2006 saw production peak at 11,868 units, with 2014’s introduction of Euro-6 emissions standards seen as another landmark moment both for Leyland Trucks and for the evolution of the LF range.
The DAF LF picked up the International Truck of the Year award in 2002 along with multiple Fleet Truck of the Year titles, most recently in 2019. Today’s LF product offering includes engine ratings from 150 to 320bhp, manual and automated gearbox options, day, extended day and sleeper cab variants and an extensive selection of wheelbases.
“We are, of course, very proud to have reached this important landmark in the history of not only the LF product, but also of Leyland Trucks,” said Leyland Trucks Managing Director, Brennan Gourdie, “The milestone represents the excellent characteristics of the truck itself and is also a reflection of the industry-leading quality of our 1,000 dedicated employees who deliver to our world-wide customers every day.”