In a major fleet renewal programme, national bakery business, Allied Bakeries, has upgraded with 68 New Generation DAF vehicles to help deliver over eight million bakery goods weekly from its seven bakeries and four depots nationwide.
The new fleet comprises 36 DAF XB 230 18-tonne rigids and 32 maximum weight DAF XD 450 6×2 tractors. The company, best known for its Kingsmill and Allinson’s brands, is also trialling a 19-tonne GVW DAF LF Electric out of its London bakery. The LF Electric, along with all the trucks in the latest delivery, were built at Leyland Trucks in Lancashire.
Complementing the new vehicles, Allied Bakeries is currently developing a new fleet management IT system which will be implemented in the New Year, while drivers are also being provided with upgraded handheld Personal Digital Assistants. These technological enhancements are expected to optimise delivery processes and improve overall operational efficiency. Allied Bakeries has also expanded its third-party goods delivery services, with the new DAF fleet supporting this growth and enabling the company to assist retail partners in broadening their bakery ranges.
This new truck fleet follows last year’s announcement which saw Allied Bakeries partner with Don-Bur to develop a new generation of efficient, high-capacity box-van double-deck trailers, which have been successfully integrated into the company’s fleet earlier this year.
“It’s been a few years since we’ve purchased a new fleet,” said Richard Hodgson, Director of Logistics & Planning at Allied Bakeries, “and it’s fair to say that the feedback that we’ve had already from drivers is fantastic. We’re particularly excited about some of the new features that the new kit will bring into our business and specifically around driver performance monitoring, pedestrian safety, additional features for driver safety, and also fuel efficiency.
“We’ve had a partnership with DAF now for decades,” he said, “and that partnership has been formed off some fantastic relationships, not just with the manufacturer, but through our local dealer, right the way through to our parts supplier. We garage all our own vehicles, servicing them and more, so all aspects that DAF offer is essential to us in terms of our appreciation for them as a supplier.
