DAF delivers Silent option for McDonald’s

DAF delivers Silent option for McDonald’s

DAF Trucks has delivered the last of five Euro-6 CF ‘Silent’ rigids to Martin Brower, the UK logistics provider for global quick-service restaurant chain, McDonald’s. The new vehicles have been acquired for Martin Brower’s long-standing partnership with McDonald’s delivering frozen, chilled and dry food products totalling some 62 million cases annually.

Improved manoeuvrability and the ability to work outside normal deliver day-time delivery hours were key to the decision to select the DAF CF model. Martin Brower and McDonald’s have been using Biodiesel since 2007. Recycled from used cooking oil (UCO), Biodiesel delivers considerable carbon reduction benefits. Biodiesel viability has also been an important factor for Martin Brower in choosing DAF as its preferred marque.

The CF 290 FAN rear-steers feature DAF’s Silent Mode; an engine software function which alters performance characteristics to reduce noise levels to less than 72 dB(A), and allowing for urban deliveries during early morning and night time restrictions. DAF’s Silent Mode also complies with PIEK-certification requirements on vehicle noise limits.

The new Euro-6 rear-steers join an all-DAF fleet based at the company’s Hemel Hempstead and Dublin locations, including 117 tractors and 40 rigids, plus 153 trailers.

Prior to entering service, Martin Brower’s final ‘Silent DAF’ has been specially prepared for the upcoming CLOCS (Construction Industry & Cyclist Safety) progress event on 23rd March at ExCeL London. The remaining four same-spec trucks are already on the road and operating out of Martin Brower’s Hemel Hempstead base. All vehicles are being supplied through DAF Dealer HTC in Oxforda nd are acquired with DAF MultiSupport R&M packages on a six-year arrangement.

Further specification reinforcing Martin Browers’ environmental credentials include DAF’s Advanced Emergency Braking System, Lane Departure Warning System and Vehicle Stability Control. Supplementary equipment includes Maple 360-degree camera monitoring system, forward facing cameras and nearside ultrasonic scan system.

“We are always looking at ways of reducing our environmental impact,” said Tony Winterbottom, General Manager Operational Support at Martin Brower,“ and have already completed significant work on reducing both noise and engine emissions. The DAF CF Silent option was chosen as part of our environmental protection strategy, and will be included on specification for all future truck acquisitions,” he said.

“We chose DAF,” continued Winterbottom, “thanks to its capability of running on biodiesel. Clean engine technology is fundamental to our environmental strategy. Our significant reduction in our Co2 emissions is a result of the collaboration between McDonald’s and Martin Brower over several years.”

All recent DAF CF acquisitions feature 8.5-metre Gray & Adams refrigerated bodies featuring a multi-temperature, two-lane configuration divided longitudinally to provide a dry goods area to the rear of the body. Frigoblock provides the refrigeration systems.

As announced at the RAI Show in Amsterdam in 2015, DAF Trucks’ Silent Mode offering is now available on LF models (PACCAR PX-5 engine variants – 150bhp and 180bhp) thus making the option available across the entire DAF LF, CF and XF ranges. Importantly for customers of DAF Silent models, acquisition costs remain low thanks to conventional driveline technology. Other PIEK-certified vehicles on the market are powered with gas engines or have hybrid drivelines resulting in prohibitive up-front acquisition costs.

Source: DAF UK