Truck & Driver UK – September 2019

Truck & Driver August 2019^41

Sole CF tractor unit: durable and a €20,000 saving

Small but

mighty

The sole CF tractor unit on

the fleet is this 440hp 4x2. A

2015 model with a 12-speed

manual ’box, this simple little

truck has been one of the

most durable on the fleet.

Gareth explains: “We

needed three trucks that

year instead of our usual

two. That’s a big outlay so we

decided to try something

a little different with the

CF, which also netted us a

€20,000 saving! Right from

the start it gave a solid

10.5mpg and it’s always been

around that mark; only now

with the new 480s is it being

beaten on fuel.”

SLIGO HAULAGE

Sligo has a strong relationship with Daf but this FH 460 Globetrotter has proved a good investment

with the TraXon ’box,” says Gareth.

The two new XFs are TraXon

autos, and Stephen, Gareth and

drivers James Neary and Enda

Connor can’t praise them enough.

“All our Euro 6 Dafs have been

great in terms of performance,

reliability and fuel economy,” says

Stephen, “but these new ones

have been brilliant. The fuel

consumption is outstanding.”

The trucks are fitted with alloy

wheels, air horns, spotlights and

side-skirts from Steen

Commercials as part of the

anniversary spec. A first for the

company is that the grilles have

been painted, and the effect is so

pleasing that subsequent trucks

may also get the same treatment.

Although the bulk of its work

is in Ireland, Sligo Haulage does

have the capability to provide

European services; it provides a

door-to-door service for one

customer that involves a trip to

Germany. Stephen was keen to

see how his smart new XFs were

to drive, so recently he double-

manned one to the Continent

and back. “I had never done a

European run, so that was an

experience in itself,” he smiles.

“I could not believe what a

good job Daf had done with the

truck. The comfort, the space

and the cab layout and, again,

the economy are all superb.”

The company is very big on

maintenance and keen to make

its drivers feel respected and

part of the family. “If you can’t do

it safely and legally then there is

no point in doing it,” says

Stephen, “and I wouldn’t

ask a driver to do