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Optimising productivity
Page 52
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DAF believes that supporting its customers is the best way for it and them to survive the recession
Words: Barry Dew When you've consistently been the UK's top truck seller. there are even more customers looking for support when things get tough. But DAF has ridden the recession-induced roller-coaster before and knows that keeping close to customers and offering targeted support are what will help the most.
Ray Ashworth, DAF Trucks UK MD (pictured top right), says there's never been a more important time for operators to keep their trucks running efficiently, adding: "We've always prided ourselves on giving the best professional advice to operators.
Over the years, DAF has steadily improved the productivity of its trucks by increasing payload, providing better driveline matching, and improving fuel efficiency. "Today's CF85 tractor at Euro-5, for example, is now 35% more productive than when the model was introduced at Euro. as evidenced by CMs own road tests," he says.
Ashworth sees productivity and back-up as fundamentals for successful operations. "With good productivity as our baseline, we've carefully examined all areas of truck operation, from financing to parts and maintenance costs, to see where we can help operators to make real savings."
He cites DAF's recently introduced 'earn now, pay later' scheme as a good example of targeted support. It can give operators up to four months' grace before they have to pay. "Our dealers offer flexible servicing arrangements that put the operational needs of the owner first and minimise downtime," he claims. "And we've recently introduced the Max Card Programme that offers £.1,000 of discounts on specific parts for a wide range of trucks and trailers.
"At the Leyland Trucks assembly plant in Lancashire, we've stepped up our on-line bodying activity (CM3 June). This dramatically reduces the overall lead-time from placing an order to putting a truck into revenue-earning service. So successful is this scheme that a truck can be on the road earning within 24 hours of coming off the line.
"A recent innovation is DAFcheck, a paperless system for the recording and retrieval of a vehicle's servicing and inspection history; this complies with VOSA's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness. DAFcheck is available free of charge and for all makes, not just DAF. Using it takes away operators' headaches of managing their maintenance records and lets them focus on winning new business."
Ashworth acknowledges that the recession has been tough and recovery is fragile. but he's convinced the key to success is to listen even more closely to customers and work with them in a true sense of partnership. •